Ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid lubricant dispersant additives

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to an oil-soluble lubricating oil additive comprising at least one terminally unsaturated ethylene alpha-olefin polymer of 300 to 10,000 number average molecular weight substituted with thiocarboxylic acid producing moieties (preferably acid or anhydride moieties), wherein the terminal unsaturation comprises ethenylidene unsaturation. The thiocarboxylic acid or anhydride substituted polymers of this invention are useful per se as additives to lubricating oils, and can also be reacted with a nucleophilic reagent, such as amines, alcohols, amino alcohols and metal compounds, to form products which are also useful lubricating oil additives, e.g., as dispersants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 226,755, filed Aug. 1, 1988, now abandoned.

This application is related to copending applications Ser. No. 226,604, filed Aug. 1, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,299; Ser. No. 226,759, filed Aug. 1, 1988; and Ser. No. 226,767, filed Aug. 1, 1988.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved oil soluble dispersant additives useful in oleaginous compositions, including fuel and lubricating oil compositions, and to concentrates containing said additives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 2,581,514 relates to the production of thio-hydrocarbon succinic acids from maleic acid and a saturated non-tertiary hydrocarbon thiol.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,551,394 relates to the reaction of an unsaturated, high molecular weight substance containing a diene as one of the constituents, and a sulfur compound in the presence of an alkyl hypochlorite additive. The polymers to be reacted are disclosed to include ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, and the useful sulfur compounds which are disclosed include thioacetic acid, dithioglycolic acid, mercaptans, thioic acids and dithioic acids. The alkyl hypohalite additive is described to be a reaction aid. The patentee illustrates the alkyl hypohalite-assisted reaction of cis-1,4-polybutadiene (M_(L),1+4, 100° C.=42.3) with thioacetic acid to form a rubbery reaction product containing 6.8 wt % S and 9.5 wt % Cl (Example 5). In a comparison, it is taught that no S or Cl was found when the polymer was contacted with the thioacetic acid in the absence of the alkyl hypohalite additive. The halide-containing products of this process are disclosed to be useful as elastomer basestocks, and as oil-extended elastomer basestocks, and some of the products (although which are not further identified) are indicated to be useful as resin blenders, resin processing aids, adhesives, varnishes and lubricating additives.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,405 relates to free-radical grafting of one or more polar monomers (e.g., acrylic acid and methacrylic acid) onto polyolefins (e.g., ethylene-propylene polymers), which are in the form of fibrils, powders, granules or films, in the presence of a wetting agent (cationic, anionic or nonionic surfactants, or water-soluble polymers) and a particular additive compound derived from alkanes and containing at least one thiol function. Suitable materials are disclosed to comprise compounds of the formula: HS--R--X, wherein R is saturated bivalent hydrocarbon radical derived from a C₁ to C₁₈ alkane (optionally carboxylated, hydroxylated or halogenated) and X is a carboxylic, hydroxyl, thiol or halogen group. The additives are said to include thiolactic acid, thiomalic acid, and thioglycolic acid. The grafted polymer products are said have improved wettability properties, as indicated by a critical surface tension of at least 75 dynes/cm, thereby improving their utility in the production of partially synthetic papers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,364 discloses stabilizer mixtures for enhancing the light/air degradation resistance of polyolefins, which stabilizers are obtained by reacting an alpha-olefin with a mercapto-carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol to form a reaction product containing thioether groups and carboxylic acid ester groups. The alpha-olefins have the formula: R¹ C(R²)═CH₂ wherein R¹ and R² are H or monovalent organic groups having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms. The mercapto-carboxylic acid and polyhydric alcohol are reacted to form an ester product of the formula: [(HS)_(m) ZCOO]_(n) --R--(OH)_(p-n).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,991 discloses a process for preparing 3-alkylthiopropionic acid esters useful as polyolefin resin stabilizers by reacting a reaction mixture comprising a polyhydric alcohol, a C₆ to C₄₀ alpha-olefin and beta-mercaptopropionic acid or lower alkyl beta-mercaptopropionate in the presence of an organic peroxide or azonitrile reaction initiator.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,925 relates to sulfur-containing compounds useful as lubricant and fuel additives prepared by first reacting a mercaptan with a carbonyl compound to form an intermediate followed by reacting the intermediate with a C₃ to C₄₀ olefinic carboxylic acid or functional derivative therof.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,519 discloses power transmission fluids containing a friction modifier additive comprising an oil soluble C₈ to about C₄₀ alkyl thio succinic anhydride or acid, which are prepared by the addition of mercapto diacids to the corresponding terminal olefins.

Ashless nitrogen and ester containing lubricating oil dispersants have been widely used by the industry. Typically, these dispersants are prepared from a long chain hydrocarbon polymer by reacting the polymer with maleic anhydride to form the corresponding polymer which is substituted with succinic anhydride groups. Polyisobutylene which has been widely used as the polymer of choice, chiefly because it is readily available by cationic polymerization from butene streams (e.g., using AlCl₃ catalysts). Such polyisobutylenes generally contain residual unsaturation in amounts of about one ethylenic double bond per polymer chain, positioned along the chain.

The polyisobutylene polymers (PIB) employed in most conventional dispersants are based on a hydrocarbon chain of a number average molecular weight (M_(n)) of from about 900 to about 2500. PIB having a M_(n) of less than about 300 gives rather poor performance results when employed in dispersants because the molecular weight is insufficient to keep the dispersant molecule fully solubilized in lubricating oils. On the other hand, high molecular weight PIB (M_(n) >3000) becomes so viscous that conventional industrial practices are incapable of handling this product in many operations. This problem becomes much more severe as the PIB molecular weight increases to 5000 or 10,000.

Increased amounts of terminal ethylenic unsaturation in polyisobutylene (so-called "reactive polyisobutylene") has been achieved by BF₃ catalyzed polymerization of isobutylene. Exemplary of references disclosing these polymers is U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,499. However, such reactive polyisobutylene materials can still contain substantial amounts of unsaturation elsewhere along the chain. Further, it is difficult to produce such reactive polyisobutylene polymers at molecular weights of greater than about 2,000, and, even so, the reactive polyisobutylenes themselves still suffer the above-noted viscosity increase disadvantages as molecular weights are increased.

Other polymers, such as ethylene-propylene co-polymers and terpolymers containing non-conjugated dienes, have been disclosed as suitable polymers for the preparation of ashless nitrogen and ester dispersants.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,435, for example, discloses dispersants prepared from polyalkenes, M_(n) of 1,300 to about 5,000. The polyalkene can comprise homopolymers or interpolymers of C₂ to C₁₆ terminal olefins, of which ethylene-propylene copolymers are said to be examples, with specific reference to a copolymer of 80% ethylene and 20% propylene.

However, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers of the above molecular weights could be produced using Ziegler-Natta catalysts only in combination with H₂ as molecular weight control in order to terminate the growing copolymer chains within this molecular weight range. Without use of H₂ or other conventional, so-called "chain stoppers", the copolymers produced with Ziegler-Natta catalysts would tend to have molecular weights greatly in excess of the above range. (Such higher copolymers, for example, are widely employed in ungrafted form as viscosity index improvers, and when grafted with nitrogen-containing groups, as described below, are conventionally employed as dispersant-viscosity index improver polymers.) The use of H₂ as a chain stopper has the disadvantage of causing the saturation of the olefinic double bond content of the copolymer. Thus, while lower molecular weight copolymers were theoretically possible to prepare, their low unsaturation content (and the accompanying low graft copolymer yields) would have made their further functionalization by a thermal "ene" reaction, e.g., with dicarboxylic acid moieties in preparing dispersants, highly unattractive.

High molecular weight ethylene-propylene polymers and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, having viscosity average molecular weights of from about 20,000 to 300,000, are generally produced employing Ziegler catalysts, generally VCl₄ or VOCl₃ with a halide source, such as organoaluminum halides and/or hydrogen halides. Such high molecular weight EP and EPDM polymers find use as viscosity index improvers. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,563,964; 3,697,429; 4,306,041; 4,540,753; 4,575,574; and 4,666,619.

The concept of derivatizing V.I. improving high molecular weight ethylene copolymers, with acid moieties such as maleic anhydride, and functionalization by reaction with an amine, to form a V.I.-dispersant oil additive is known in the art as indicated by the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,316,177; 3,326,804; 4,160,739; 4,161,452; 4,171,273; 4,517,104; 4,089,794; 4,137,185; 4,144,181; 4,219,432; 4,507,515; 4,557,847; 4,632,769; 4,693,838; and 4,707,285.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,834 to Uniroyal Chemical discloses preparation (via certain metallocene and alumoxane catalyst systems) and composition of ethylene-alpha olefin copolymers and terpolymers having vinylidene-type terminal unsaturation, which are disclosed to be useful as intermediates in epoxy-grafted encapsulation compositions.

Japanese Published Patent Application 87-129,303A of Mitsui Petrochemical relates to narrow molecular weight distribution (M_(w) /M_(n) <2.5) ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers containing 85-99 mol % ethylene, which are disclosed to be used for dispersing agents, modifiers or materials to produce toners. The copolymers (having crystallinity of from 5-85%) are prepared in the presence of a catalyst system comprising Zr compounds having at least one cycloalkadienyl group and alumoxane.

European Patent 128,046 discloses (co)polyolefin reactor blends of polyethylene and ethylene higher alpha-olefin copolymers prepared by employing described dual-metallocene/alumoxane catalyst systems.

European Patent Publication 129,368 discloses metallocene/alumoxane catalysts useful for the preparation of ethylene homopolymer and ethylene higher alpha-olefin copolymers.

European Patent Application Publication 257,696 A1 relates to a process for dimerizing alpha-olefins using a catalyst comprising certain metallocene/alumoxane systems.

PCT Published Patent Application WO 88/01626 relates to transition metal compound/alumoxane catalysts for polymerizing alpha-olefins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an oil-soluble lubricating oil additive comprising ethylene alpha-olefin polymer of 700 to 10,000 number average molecular weight terminally substituted with thiocarboxylic acid producing moieties (preferably acid or anhydride moieties), wherein the ethylene alpha-olefin polymer group is derived from a terminally unsaturated ethylene alpha-olefin polymer wherein the terminal unsaturation comprises ethenylidene unsaturation, and wherein the thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety is derived from a thio-substituted compound selected from the group consisting of thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids, thio-substituted di- and poly-carboxylic acids, and thio-substituted mono- and poly-carboxylic acid anhydrides and esters thereof. The thiocarboxylic acid material substituted polymers of this invention are useful per se as additives to lubricating oils (e.g., as antioxidants or antiwear agents), and can also be reacted with a nucleophilic reagent, such as amines, alcohols, amino alcohols and metal compounds, to form derivative products which are also useful lubricating oil additives, e.g., as dispersants and to impart antioxidancy and antiwear properties to the oil.

The materials of the invention are different from the prior art because of their effectiveness and their ability to provide enhanced lubricating oil dispersancy, as exhibited by their enhanced sludge and varnish control properties.

The process of this invention permits the preparation of lubricating oil dispersant additives which are simultaneously characterized by a high active ingredient content (usually at least about 60 wt. %, up to about 95 wt. %) and by advantageous viscosity properties to permit the additives to be readily handled. In addition, the ethylene alpha-olefin polymers substituted by mono- and di-carboxylic acid producing moieties of this invention can be characterized by VR values (as hereinafter defined) of not greater than about 4.1, thereby providing advantageous viscosity modifying properties to the lubricating oils containing them. The present invention can produce such substituted polymers in a highly concentrated form as substantially halogen free materials, thereby reducing the corrositivity processing difficulties and environmental concerns which are associated with halogen-containing lubricating oil additives.

Further, dispersant materials can be prepared from the substituted polymers of this invention to provide lubricating oil dispersant products having VR' values of not greater than about 4.1 and VR'/VR_(r) ratios of less than about 1.11 (as such values and ratios are hereinafter defined). Surprisingly, the process of this invention permits the preparation of highly concentrated, substantially halogen-free dispersants from high molecular weight ethylene-alpha-olefin polymers (M_(n) >5000, e.g., 5,500-10,000) of superior viscosity properties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preparation of Ethylene Alpha-Olefin Polymer

The polymers employed in this invention are polymers of ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin having the formula H₂ C═CHR¹ wherein R¹ is straight chain or branched chain alkyl radical comprising 1 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein the polymer contains a high degree of terminal ethenylidene unsaturation. Preferably R¹ in the above formula is alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and more preferably is alkyl of from 1 to 2 carbon atoms. Therefore, useful comonomers with ethylene in this invention include propylene, 1-butene, hexene-1, octene-1, 4-methylpentene-1, decene-1, dodecene-1, tridecene-1, tetradecene-1, pentadecene-1, hexadecene-1, heptadecene-1, octadecene-1, nonadecene-1 and mixtures thereof (e.g., mixtures of propylene and 1-butene, and the like).

Exemplary of such polymers are ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-butene-1 copolymers and the like. Preferred polymers are copolymers of ethylene and propylene and ethylene and butene-1.

The molar ethylene content of the polymers employed in this invention is preferably in the range of between about 20 and about 80 percent, and more preferably between about 30 and about 70 percent. When propylene and/or butene-1 are employed as comonomer(s) with ethylene, the ethylene content of such copolymers is most preferably between about 45 and about 65 percent, although higher or lower ethylene contents may be present.

The polymers employed in this invention generally possess a number average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 10,000, preferably of from about 700 to about 5,000; most preferably of from about 1500 to about 3000. The number average molecular weight for such polymers can be determined by several known techniques. A convenient method for such determination is by size exclusion chromatography (also known as gel permeation chromatography (GPC)) which additionally provides molecular weight distribution information, see W. W. Yau, J. J. Kirkland and D. D. Bly, "Modern Size Exclusion Liquid Chromatography", John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979.

Consequently, such polymers generally possess an intrinsic viscosity (as measured in tetralin at 135° C.) of between about 0.025 and about 0.6 dl/g, preferably of between about 0.05 and about 0.5 dl/g, most preferably of between about 0.075 and about 0.4 dl/g.

The polymers employed in this invention preferably exhibit a degree of crystallinity such that, when grafted, they are essentially amorphous.

The polymers employed in this invention are further characterized in that up to about 95% and more of the polymer chains possess terminal ethenylidene-type unsaturation. Thus, one end of such polymers will be of the formula POLY--C(T¹)═CH₂ wherein T¹ is C₁ to C₁₈ alkyl, preferably C₁ to C₈ alkyl, and more preferably C₁ to C₂ alkyl, (e.g., methyl or ethyl) and wherein POLY represents the polymer chain. The chain length of the T¹ alkyl group will vary depending on the comonomer(s) selected for use in the polymerization. A minor amount of the polymer chains can contain terminal ethenyl unsaturation, i.e. POLY--CH═CH₂, and a portion of the polymers can contain internal monounsaturation, e.g. POLY--CH═CH(T¹), wherein T¹ is as defined above.

The polymer employed in this invention comprises polymer chains, at least about 30 percent of which possess terminal ethenylidene unsaturation. Preferably at least about 50 percent, more preferably at least about 60 percent, and most preferably at least about 75 percent (e.g. 75-98%), of such polymer chains exhibit terminal ethyenylidene unsaturation. The percentage of polymer chains exhibiting terminal ethyenylidene unsaturation may be determined by FTIR spectroscopic analysis, titration, or C¹³ NMR.

The polymer and the composition employed in this invention may be prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,834, in European Patent Publications 128,046 and 129,368, and in co-pending Ser. Nos. 728,111, filed Apr. 29, 1985, and 93,460, filed Sep. 10, 1987, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The polymers for use in the present invention can be prepared by polymerizing monomer mixtures comprising ethylene in combination with other monomers such as alpha-olefins having from 20 carbon atoms (and preferably from 3-4 carbon atoms, i.e., propylene, butene-1, and mixtures thereof) in the presence of a catalyst system comprising at least one metallocene (e.g., a cyclopentadienyl-transition metal compound) and an alumoxane compound. The comonomer content can be controlled through the selection of the metallocene catalyst component and by controlling the partial pressure of the various monomers.

The catalysts employed in the production of the reactant polymers are organometallic coordination compounds which are cyclopentadienyl derivatives of a Group 4b metal of the Periodic Table of the Elements (56th Edition of Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press [1975]) and include mono, di and tricyclopentadienyls and their derivatives of the transition metals. Particularly desirable are the metallocene of a Group 4b metal such as titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. The alumoxanes employed in forming the reaction product with the metallocenes are themselves the reaction products of an aluminum trialkyl with water.

In general, at least one metallocene compound is employed in the formation of the catalyst. As indicated, supra, metallocene is a metal derivative of a cyclopentadiene. The metallocenes usefully employed in accordance with this invention contain at least one cyclopentadiene ring. The metal is selected from the Group 4b preferably titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, and most preferably hafnium and zirconium. The cyclopentadienyl ring can be unsubstituted or contain one or more substituents (e.g., from 1 to 5 substituents) such as, for example, a hydrocarbyl substituent (e.g., up to 5 C₁ to C₅ hydrocarbyl substituents) or other substituents, e.g. such as, for example, a trialkyl silyl substituent. The metallocene can contain one, two, or three cyclopentadienyl rings; however, two rings are preferred.

Useful metallocenes can be represented by the general formulas:

    (Cp).sub.m MR.sub.n X.sub.q                                (I)

wherein Cp is a cyclopentadienyl ring, M is a Group 4b transition metal, R is a hydrocarbyl group or hydrocarboxy group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a halogen, and m is a whole number from 1 to 3, n is a whole number from 0 to 3, and q is a whole number from 0 to 3.

    (C.sub.5 R'.sub.k).sub.g R".sub.s (C.sub.5 R'.sub.k)MQ.sub.3-g (II)

and

    R".sub.s (C.sub.5 R'.sub.k).sub.2 MQ'                      (III)

wherein (C₅ R'_(k)) is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl, each R' is the same or different and is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical such as alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon containing hydrocarbyl radical, or hydrocarbyl radicals wherein two carbon atoms are joined together to form a C₄ -C₆ ring, R" is a C₁ -C₄ alkylene radical, a dialkyl germanium or silicon, or a alkyl phosphine or amine radical bridging two (C₅ R'_(k)) rings, Q is a hydrocarbyl radical such as aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, or aryl alkyl radical having from 1-20 carbon atoms, hydrocarboxy radical having from 1-20 carbon atoms or halogen and can be the same or different from each other, Q' is an alkylidene radical having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, s is 0 or 1, g is 0, 1 or 2, s is 0 when g is 0, k is 4 when s is 1, and k is 5 when s is 0, and M is as defined above. Exemplary hydrocarbyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl, isoamyl, hexyl, isobutyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, cetyl, 2-ethylhexyl, phenyl and the like. Exemplary silicon containing hydrocarbyl radicals are trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl and triphenylsilyl. Exemplary halogen atoms include chlorine, bromine, fluorine and iodine and of these halogen atoms, chlorine is preferred. Exemplary hydrocarboxy radicals are methoxy ethoxy, butoxy, amyloxy and the like. Exemplary of the alkylidene radicals is methylidene, ethylidene and propylidene.

Illustrative, but non-limiting examples of the metallocenes represented by formula I are dialkyl metallocenes such as bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dimethyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium diphenyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium diphenyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)hafnium dimethyl and diphenyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium di-neopentyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium di-neopentyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dibenzyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dibenzyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium dimethyl; the mono alkyl metallocenes such as bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium methyl chloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl) titanium ethyl chloride bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium phenyl chloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium hydrochloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium methyl chloride, bis (cyclopentadienyl) zirconium ethyl chloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium phenyl chloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl) titanium methyl bromide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium methyl iodide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium ethyl bromide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium ethyl iodide, bis (cyclopentadienyl)titanium phenyl bromide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium phenyl iodide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium methyl bromide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium methyl iodide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium ethyl bromide. bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium ethyl iodide, bis (cyclopentadienyl)zirconium phenyl bromide, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium phenyl iodide; the trialkyl metallocenes such as cyclopentadienyltitanium trimethyl, cyclopentadienyl zirconium triphenyl, and cyclopentadienyl zirconium trineopentyl, cyclopentadienylzirconium trimethyl, cyclopentadienylhafnium triphenyl, cyclopentadienyl hafnium trineopentyl, and cyclopentadienylhafnium trimethyl.

Illustrative, but non-limiting examples of II and III metallocenes which can be usefully employed are monocyclopentadienyls titanocenes such as, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl titanium trichloride, pentaethylcyclopentadienyl titanium trichloride, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) titanium diphenyl, the carbene represented by the formula bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium═CH₂ and derivatives of this reagent such as bis(cyclopentadienyl)Ti═CH₂.Al(CH₃)₃, (Cp₂ TiCH₂)₂, Cp₂ TiCH₂ CH(CH₃)CH₂, Cp₂ Ti--CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ ; substituted bis(Cp)Ti(IV) compounds such as bis(indenyl) titanium diphenyl or dichloride, bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium diphenyl or dihalides; dialkyl, trialkyl, tetra-alkyl and penta-alkyl cyclopentadienyl titanium compounds such as bis(1,2-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium diphenyl or dichloride, bis(1,2-diethylcyclopentadienyl)titanium diphenyl or dichloride and other dihalide complexes; silicon, phosphine, amine or carbon bridged cyclopentadiene complexes, such as dimethylsilyldicyclopentadienyl titanium diphenyl or dichloride, methyl phosphine dicyclopentadienyl titanium diphenyl or dichloride, methylenedicyclopentadienyl titanium diphenyl or dichloride and other complexes described by formulae II and III.

Illustrative but non-limiting examples of the zirconocenes of Formula II and III which can be usefully employed are, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl zirconium trichloride, pentaethylcyclopentadienyl zirconium trichloride, the alkyl substituted cyclopentadienes, such as bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, bis(beta-phenylpropylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, bis(n-butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl bis(cyclohexylmethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl bis(n-octyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, and haloalkyl and dihydride, and dihalide complexes of the above; dialkyl, trialkyl, tetra-alkyl, and penta-alkyl cyclopentadienes, such as bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium diphenyl, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl, bis(1,2-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dimethyl and mono and dihalide and hydride complexes of the above; silicon, phosphorus, and carbon bridged cyclopentadiene complexes such as dimethylsilyldicyclopentadienyl zirconium dimethyl, methyl halide or dihalide, and methylene dicyclopentadienyl zirconium dimethyl, methyl halide, or dihalide. Mono, di and tri-silyl substituted cyclopentadienyl compounds such as bis(trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride and dimethyl bis (1,3-di-trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride and dimethyl and bis(1,2,4-tri-trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride and dimethyl. Carbenes represented by the formulae Cp₂ Zr═CH₂ P(C₆ H₅)₂ CH₃, and derivatives of these compounds such as Cp₂ ZrCH₂ CH(CH₃)CH₂.

Mixed cyclopentadienyl metallocene compounds such as cyclopentadienyl (pentamethyl cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, (1,3-di-trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl) (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride, and cyclopentadienyl(indenyl) zirconium dichloride can be employed.

Most preferably, the polymers used in this invention are substantially free of ethylene homopolymer.

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)hafnium dichloride, bis(cyclopentadienyl)hafnium; dimethyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium dichloride and the like are illustrative of other metallocenes.

Some preferred metallocenes are bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium; dimethyl, bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride; bis(methylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride; bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride; bis(n-butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dimethylsilyldicyclopentadienyl zirconium dichloride; bis(trimethylsilycyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; and dimethylsilyldicyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride; bis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; bis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride; the racemic and/or meso isomer of 1,2-ethylene-bridged bis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride; the racemic and/or meso isomer of 1,1-dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride; and the racemic and/or meso isomer of 1,1-dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride.

The alumoxane compounds useful in the polymerization process may be cyclic or linear. Cyclic alumoxanes may be represented by the general formula (R--Al--O)_(n) while linear alumoxanes may be represented by the general formula R(R--Al--O)n'AlR₂. In the general formula R is a C₁ -C₅ alkyl group such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and pentyl, n is an integer of from 3 to 20, and n' is an integer from 1 to about 20. Preferably, R is methyl and n and n' are 4-18. Generally, in the preparation of alumoxanes from, for example, aluminum trimethyl and water, a mixture of the linear and cyclic compounds is obtained.

The alumoxane can be prepared in various ways. Preferably, they are prepared by contacting water with a solution of aluminum trialkyl, such as, for examples, aluminum trimethyl, in a suitable organic solvent such as toluene or an aliphatic hydrocarbon. For example, the aluminum alkyl is treated with water in the form of a moist solvent. In an alternative method, the aluminum alkyl such as aluminum trimethyl can be desirably contacted with a hydrated salt such as hydrated copper sulfate or ferrous sulfate. Preferably, the alumoxane is prepared in the presence of a hydrated ferrous sulfate. The method comprises treating a dilute solution of aluminum trimethyl in, for example, toluene, with ferrous sulfate represented by the general formula FeSO₄.7H₂ O. The ratio of ferrous sulfate to aluminum trimethyl is desirably about 1 mole of ferrous sulfate for 6 to 7 moles of aluminum trimethyl. The reaction is evidenced by the evolution of methane.

The mole ratio of aluminum in the alumoxane to total metal in the metallocenes which can be usefully employed can be in the range of about 0.5:1 to about 1000:1, and desirably about 1:1 to about 100:1. Preferably, the mole ratio will be in the range of 50:1 to about 5:1 and most preferably 20:1 to 5:1.

The solvents used in the preparation of the catalyst system are inert hydrocarbons, in particular a hydrocarbon that is inert with respect to the catalyst system. Such solvents are well known and include, for example, isobutane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, toluene, xylene and the like.

Polymerization is generally conducted at temperatures ranging between about 20° and about 300° C., preferably between about 30° and about 200° C. Reaction time is not critical and may vary from several hours or more to several minutes or less, depending upon factors such as reaction temperature, the monomers to be copolymerized, and the like. One of ordinary skill in the art may readily obtain the optimum reaction time for a given set of reaction parameters by routine experimentation.

The catalyst systems described herein are suitable for the polymerization of olefins in solution over a wide range of pressures. Preferably, the polymerization will be completed at a pressure of from about 10 to about 3,000 bar, and generally at a pressure within the range from about 40 bar to about 2,000 bar, and most preferably, the polymerization will be completed at a pressure within the range from about 50 bar to about 1,500 bar.

After polymerization and, optionally, deactivation of the catalyst (e.g., by conventional techniques such as contacting the polymerization reaction medium with water or an alcohol, such as methanol, propanol, isopropanol, etc., or cooling or flashing the medium to terminate the polymerization reaction), the product polymer can be recovered by processes well known in the art. Any excess reactants may be flashed off from the polymer.

The polymerization may be conducted employing liquid monomer, such as liquid propylene, or mixtures of liquid monomers (such as mixtures of liquid propylene and 1-butene), as the reaction medium. Alternatively, polymerization may be accomplished in the presence of a hydrocarbon inert to the polymerization such as butane, pentane, isopentane, hexane, isooctane, decane, toluene, xylene, and the like.

In those situations wherein the molecular weight of the polymer product that would be produced at a given set of operating conditions is higher than desired, any of the techniques known in the prior art for control of molecular weight, such as the use of hydrogen and/or polymerization temperature control, may be used in the process of this invention. If so desired, the polymerization may be carried out in the presence of hydrogen to lower the polymer molecular weight. Care should be taken to assure that terminal ethenylidene unsaturation is not reduced to less than about 30 percent of the polymer chains.

However, the polymers are preferably formed in the substantial absence of added H₂ gas, that is, the absence of H₂ gas added in amounts effective to substantially reduce the polymer molecular weight. More preferably, the polymerizations will be conducted employing less than 5 wppm, and more preferably less than 1 wppm, of added H₂ gas, based on the moles of the ethylene monomer charged to the polymerization zone.

When carrying out the polymerization in a batch-type fashion, the reaction diluent (if any), ethylene and alpha-olefin comonomer(s) are charged at appropriate ratios to a suitable reactor. Care must be taken that all ingredients are dry, with the reactants typically being passed through molecular sieves or other drying means prior to their introduction into the reactor. Subsequently, either the catalyst and then the cocatalyst, or first the cocatalyst and then the catalyst are introduced while agitating the reaction mixture, thereby causing polymerization to commence. Alternatively, the catalyst and cocatalyst may be premixed in a solvent and then charged to the reactor. As polymer is being formed, additional monomers may be added to the reactor. Upon completion of the reaction, unreacted monomer and solvent are either flashed or distilled off, if necessary by vacuum, and the low molecular weight copolymer withdrawn from the reactor.

The polymerization may be conducted in a continuous manner by simultaneously feeding the reaction diluent (if employed), monomers, catalyst and cocatalyst to a reactor and withdrawing solvent, unreacted monomer and polymer from the reactor so as to allow a residence time of ingredients long enough for forming polymer of the desired molecular weight and separating the polymer from the reaction mixture.

PREPARATION OF ETHYLENE ALPHA-OLEFIN POLYMER SUBSTITUTED THIOCARBOXYLIC ACID MATERIAL

The ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material, i.e., acid, anhydride or acid ester of this invention, comprises the aforedescribed polymer substituted with thiocarboxylic acid producing moieties can be prepared by contacting an ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer described above with at least one thiocarboxylic acid material selected from the group consisting of thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids and esters, thio-substituted di- and poly-carboxylic acids and esters, and thio-substituted di- and poly-carboxylic acid anhydrides.

The thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids and acid esters which can be employed in this invention include members selected from the group consisting of compounds of the Formula (A): ##STR1## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, and D¹ is H or hydrocarbyl. A preferred class of thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids are compounds of the Formula (B):

    HS--CH(D')--C.sub.d H.sub.2d --C(O)--OH

wherein D' is H or alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, butyl, propyl, methylethyl and the like) and d is an integer of from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 or 1.

The thio-substituted dicarboxylic acids and acid esters which can be employed in this invention include members selected from the group consisting of compounds of the Formula (C): ##STR2## wherein L is trivalent hydrocarbyl, and D³ and D⁴ are the same or different and comprise H or hydrocarbyl. A preferred class of the thio-substituted dicarboxylic acids are compounds of the Formula (D): ##STR3## wherein e and f are the same or different and are each integers of from 0 to 10, with the proviso that the sum of e and f is from 2 to 10. More preferably, e and f are the same or different and area each integers of from 0 to 4, with the proviso that the sum of e and f is from 3 to 6.

The thio-substituted polycarboxylic acids and acid esters which can be employed in this invention include members selected from the group consisting of compounds of the Formula (E):

    HS--L'--[C(O)OD.sup.4 ].sub.p'

wherein L' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, p' is an integer of from 3 to 4 and D⁴ is H or hydrocarbyl. A preferred class of the thio-substituted polycarboxylic acids are compounds of the Formula (E) above wherein L' is derived from a phenyl or mono- or di-alky substituted phenyl group and wherein p' is 3 or 4.

The thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid anhydrides which can be employed in this invention include members selected from the group consisting of monoanhydrides of the Formula (F): ##STR4## and polyanhydrides of the Formula (G): ##STR5## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, J' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, D³ comprises H or hydrocarbyl, and p" is a number of greater than 1 (e.g., an average of from >1 to 4, e.g., 2).

The hydrocarbyl J group will generally contain from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and most preferably from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. Illustrative of useful J groups are alkylidine having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; arylene having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; alkyl-substituted arylene having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent and from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the arylene moiety; aryl-substituted alkylidene having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkylidine group; cycloalkylidene having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms; alkyl-substituted cycloalkylidene, having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, in the cycloalkylidene group and from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent group; and the like. When J comprises alkylidine or aryl-substituted alkylidine, the alkylidine group can be straight or branched chain, and includes such groups as dimethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, heptamethylene, octamethylene, decamethylene, methylethylene, 2-methyltrimethylene, 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene, 2,2-dimethylhexamethylene, 2-ethylhexamethylene, and the like. When J comprises arylene, the J group can be illustrated by phenylene and naphthylene. When the J group comprises aryl-substituted alkylidine, the J group can be illustrated by phenylmethylene, phenyldimethylene, 3-naphthylhexamethylene, and the like. When the J group comprises alkyl-substituted arylene, the J group can be illustrated by 4-methyl-1,2-phenylene, 4-methyl-1,3-phenylene, 4,6-dimethyl-1,3-phenylene, 4-pentyl-1,3-phenylene, 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylene and the like. When J comprises cycloalkylidene, or alkyl-substituted cycloalkylidene, the J group can be illustrated by 1,2-cyclopropylene, 1,3-cyclobutylene, 1,4-cyclopentylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,6-cyclooctylene, 1,5-cyclononylene, 1,8-cyclodecylene, 3-methyl-1,4-cyclohexylene and the like.

The L, L' and J' hydrocarbyl groups can comprise polyvalent hydrocarbon groups can be derived from the same hydrocarbons from which the above-discussed bivalent J groups are derived. Therefore, the L, L' and J' hydrocarbyl groups will generally contain from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms. Illustrative of useful hydrocarbon from which the L, L' and J' groups may be derived are alkane having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; aromatic hydrocarbons having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent and from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aromatic moiety; aryl-substituted alkanes having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; cycloalkane having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms; alkyl-substituted cycloalkylane having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, in the cycloalkyl group and from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent group; and the like.

Illustrative of useful hydrocarbyl D¹ -D⁴ groups are straight and branched chain alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, alkyl-substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent and from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl moiety, aryl-substituted alkyl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, in the cycloalkyl group and from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent group, and the like. Illustrative of alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, 2-ethylhexyl and the like. When D¹ -D⁴ comprises aryl, the D¹ -D⁴ group can be illustrated by phenyl and naphthyl. When the D¹ -D⁴ group comprises aryl-substituted alkyl, the D² -D⁴ group can be illustrated by phenylmethyl, phenyldimethyl, 3-naphthylhexamethyl, and the like. When the D¹ -D⁴ group comprises alkyl-substituted aryl, the D¹ -D⁴ group can be illustrated by 4-methyl-1,2-phenyl, 4-methyl-1,3-phenyl, 4,6- dimethyl-1,3-phenyl, 4-pentyl-1,3-phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenyl and the like. When D¹ -D⁴ comprises cycloalkyl or alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl the D¹ -D⁴ group can be illustrated by cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, methyl-substituted cyclohexyl and the like.

Preferred are thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids and thio-substituted dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides, having a total of up to 10 carbons per molecule.

Exemplary of such thiocarboxylic acids, anhydrides and acid esters thereof are HS--CH₂ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₂ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₃ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₄ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₅ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₆ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₇ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₈ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₉ COOH, HS--(CH₂)₁₀ COOH, HS--CH(CH₃)COOH, HS--C(CH₃)₂ COOH, HS--CH(C₂ H₅)COOH, HS--CH(C₃ H₇)COOH , HS--(CH₂)₂ C(CH₃)₂ (CH₂)₂ CHCOOH, HS--PhCOOH, HS--CH(Ph)COOH, HS--Ph(CH₃)COOH, HS--Ph(C₈ H ₁₇)COOH, HS--CHCH₂ CHCOOH, HS--CH(CH₂)₂ CHCOOH, HS--CHCH(CH₃)CH₂ CHCOOH, HOOCCH₂ CH(COOH)CH₂ SH, HOOCCH(COOH)SH, HOOCCH₂ CH(COOH)SH, HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(COOH)CH₂ SH, HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(COOH)CH₂ CH₂ SH, HOOC(CH₂)₄ CH(COOH)CH₂ CH₂ SH, HOOC(CH₂)₄ CH(SH)CH₂ CH₂ COOH, HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(SH)CH₂ COOH, ##STR6##

HS--CH₂ COOCH₃, HS--(CH₂)₂ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--(CH₂)₃ COOCH₃, HS--(CH₂)₄ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--(CH₂)₅ COOCH₃, HS--(CH₂)₆ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--(CH₂)₇ COOCH₃, HS--(CH₂)₈ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--(CH₂)₉ COOCH₃, HS--(CH₂)₁₀ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--CH(CH₃)COOCH₃, HS--C(CH₃)₂ COOC₂ H₅,

HS--CH(C₂ H₅)COOCH₃, HS--CH(C₃ H₇)COOC₂ H₅,

HS--(CH₂)₂ C(CH₃)₂ (CH₂)₂ CHCOOCH₃,

HS--PhCOOC₂ H₅, HS--CH(Ph)COOCH₃,

HS--Ph(CH₃)CCOOC₂ H₅, HS--Ph(C₈ H₁₇)COOCH₃,

HS--CHCH₂ CHCOOC₂ H₅, HS--CH(CH₂)₂ CHCOOCH₃,

HS--CHCH(CH₃)CH₂ CHCOOC₂ H₅,

HOOCCH₂ CH(COOCH₃)CH₂ SH, HOOCCH(COOC₂ H₅)SH,

HOOCCH₂ CH(COOCH₃)SH,

HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(COOC₂ H₅)CH₂ SH,

HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(COOCH₃)CH₂ CH₂ SH,

HOOC(CH₂)₄ CH(COOC2H5)CH₂ CH₂ SH,

HOOC(CH₂)₄ CH(SH)CH₂ CH₂ COOCH₃,

HOOC(CH₂)₂ CH(SH)CH₂ COOC₂ H₅, ##STR7##

The thiocarboxylic acid materials useful as reactants in this invention are known in the art and can be prepared by conventional methods.

The polymer can be reacted with the thiocarboxylic acid, anhydride or acid ester by contacting the polymer and the thiocarboxylic acid material at elevated temperature in the presence of a free radical reaction initiator. It has been surprisingly found that the terminally ethylenically-unsaturated ethylene alpha-olefin polymers of this invention readily undergo such reactions under conditions in which the formation of sediment, or other by-products contributing to product haze, is greatly minimized or avoided altogether. The improved low sediment reaction product is preferably formed using a polymer having a number average molecular weight of from about 700 to 10,000, more preferably from about 900 to 10,000, still more preferably from about 1500 to 8,000, and most preferably greater than about 1800 to about 5,000, and a polydispersity of less than about 4, preferably less than about 3, e.g., from 1.1 to 3.5, most preferably from 1.2 to 3.

Preferably, the polymers used in this invention contain less than 5 wt %, more preferably less than 2 wt %, and most preferably less than 1 wt % of a polymer fraction comprising polymer molecules having a molecular weight of less than about 300, as determined by high temperature gel permeation chromatography employing the corresponding polymer calibration curve. Such preferred polymers have been found to permit the preparation of ene reaction products, particularly when employing maleic anhydride as the unsaturated acid reactant, with substantially no visibly observable sediment. In the event the polymer produced as described above contains greater than about 5 wt % of such a low molecular weight polymer fraction, the polymer can be first treated by conventional means to remove the low molecular weight fraction to the desired level prior to initiating the ene reaction, and preferably prior to contacting the polymer with the selected unsaturated carboxylic reactant(s). For example, the polymer can be heated preferably with inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) stripping, at elevated temperature under a reduced pressure to volatilize the low molecular weight polymer components which can then be removed from the heat treatment vessel. The precise temperature, pressure and time for such heat treatment can vary widely depending on such factors as the polymer number average molecular weight, the amount of the low molecular weight fraction to be removed, the particular monomers employed and other factors. Generally, a temperature of from about 60° to 100° C. and a pressure of from about 0.1 to 0.9 atmospheres and a time of from about 0.5 to 20 hours (e.g., 2 to 8 hours) will be sufficient.

It will be understood that the ethylene alpha-olefin polymers of this invention which are charged to the alkylation reaction zone can be charged alone or together with (e.g., in admixture with) other polyalkenes derived from alkenes having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms (butene, pentene, octene, decene, dodecene, tetradodecene and the like) and homopolymers of C₃ to C₁₀, e.g., C₂ to C₅, monoolefins, and copolymers of C₂ to C₁₀, e.g., C₂ to C₅, monoolefins, said additional polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least about 900, and a molecular weight distribution of less than about 4.0, preferably less than about 3.0 (e.g, from 1.2 to 2.8). Preferred such additional olefin polymers comprise a major molar amount of C₂ to C₁₀, e.g. C₂ to C₅ monoolefin. Such olefins include ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, pentene, octene-1, styrene, etc. Exemplary of the additionally charged homopolymers is polypropylene, polyisobutylene, and poly-n-butene the like as well as interpolymers of two or more of such olefins such as copolymers of: ethylene and propylene (prepared by conventional methods other than as described above for the preferred ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers employed in this invention, that is, ethylene-propylene copolymers which are substantially saturated, wherein less than about 10 wt % of the polymer chains contain ethylenic unsaturation); butylene and isobutylene; propylene and isobutylene; etc. Other copolymers include those in which a minor molar amount of the copolymer monomers, e.g., 1 to 10 mole %, is a C₄ to C₁₈ non-conjugated diolefin, e.g., a copolymer of isobutylene and butadiene: or a copolymer of ethylene, propylene and 1,4-hexadiene; etc. The additional such olefin polymers charged to the alkylation reaction will usually have number average molecular weights of at least about 900, more generally within the range of about 1200 and about 5,000, more usually between about 1500 and about 4000. Particularly useful such additional olefin polymers have number average molecular weights within the range of about 1500 and about 3000 with approximately one double bond per chain. An especially useful additional such polymer is polyisobutylene. Preferred are mixtures of such polyisobutylene with ethylene-propylene copolymers wherein at least 30 wt % of the copolymer chains contain terminal ethenylene monounsaturation as described above.

The number average molecular weight for such polymers can be determined by several known techniques. A convenient method for such determination is by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) which additionally provides molecular weight distribution information, see W. W. Yau, J. J. Kirkland and D. D. Bly, "Modern Size Exclusion Liquid Chromatography", John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979.

In this process, the selected polymer and thiocarboxylic acid, anhydride or acid ester are contacted for a time and under conditions effective to form the desired ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material. Generally, the polymer and thiocarboxylic acid material will be contacted in a polymer to thiocarboxylic acid material mole ratio of from about 1:1 to 1:10, and preferably from about 1:1 to 1:5, at an elevated temperature, generally from about 90° to 190° C., preferably from about 150° to 170° C. The reaction will be generally carried out, with stirring for a time of from about 0.25 to 4 hours, preferably from about 0.5 to 2 hours.

The reaction in accordance with the invention takes place in the presence of a free radical catalyst, i.e. a catalyst which provides a free radical upon decomposition. These catalysts are known per se, and form no part of the invention. The free radical catalyst should have a half life at 60° C. within the range from 2 to 2,000 minutes.

A preferred class of free radical catalysts is the organic peroxides, which include:

(i) Peresters, such as tertiary-butyl perbenzoate, tertiary-butyl peroctoate, tertiary-butyl perpivalate, tertiary-butyl perneodecanoate, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5:bis-(2-ethylhexoyl peroxy) hexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (benzoyl peroxy) hexane, tertiary-butyl peroxypentanoate, tertiarybutyl peroxydecanoate, tertiary-butyl peroxy-2-methylpropionate, tertiarybutyl peroxy-2-methylpentanoate, tertiary-butyl peroxy-2-ethylbutyrate, tertiary-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, tertiary-butyl peroxyneopentanoate, tertiary-butyl peroxyneooctanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxypentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxyoctanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxydecanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxy-2-methylpropionate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxy-2-methylpentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxy-2-ethylbutyrate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxyneopentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxyneooctanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diperoxyneodecanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxypentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxyoctanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxydecanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxy-2-methylpropionate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxy-2-methylpentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxy-2-ethylbutyrate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxyneopentanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxyneooctanoate, 2,5-dimethylhexyne-3-2,5-diperoxyneodecanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxypentanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxyoctanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxydecanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxy-2-methylpropionate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxy-2-methylpentanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxy-2-ethylbutyrate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxyneopentanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxyneooctanoate, 2,7-dimethyloctane-2,7-diperoxyneodecanoate, 2,4,7,9-tetramethyldecyne-3,4,7-diperoxy2-ethylhexanoate, tertiary-butyl peroxyacetate, tertiary-butyl peroxymaleic acid, tertiary-butyl peroxyisobutyrate, tertiary-butyl peroxytoluate, tertiarybutyl peroxycrotonate, di-tertiary-butyl diperoxyphthalate; and the like.

(ii) Perketals such as ethyl-3,3-bis (tertiary-butyl peroxy) butyrate, 1,1-bis (tertiary-butyl peroxy) cyclohexane, 2,2-bis (tertiary-butylperoxy) butane, 1,1-bis(tertiary-butylperoxy) 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane; and the like.

(iii) Diacyl peroxides, such as lauroyl peroxide, acetyl-2-ethyl hexanoyl peroxide, decanoyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, p-chlorobenzoyl peroxide, isobutyryl peroxide, diisoanoyl peroxide, pelargonyl peroxide, propionyl peroxide, and di-toloyl peroxide; and the like.

(iv) Ketone peroxides, such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, acetyl acetone peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide and bis(1-hydroxycyclohexyl) peroxide; and the like.

(v) Dibasic acid peroxides, such as succinic acid peroxide; and the like.

(vi) Sulfonyl acyl peroxides, such as acetyl cyclohexyl sulfonyl peroxide and acetyl sec-heptylsulfonyl peroxide; and the like.

(vii) Peroxycarbonates, such as tertiary-butylperoxy isopropyl carbonates, such as tertiary-butylperoxy isopropyl carbonate; and the like.

(viii) Peroxydicarbonates, such as bis-(4-tertiary-butylcyclohexyl) peroxydicarbonate, dibenzyl peroxydicarbonate, dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di (n-propyl) peroxydicarbonate, di-(sec-butyl) peroxydicarbonate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) peroxydicarbonate; and the like.

(ix) Hydroperoxides such as tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, and p-methane hydroperoxide; and the like.

(x) Dialkyl peroxides, such as di-tertiary-butyl peroxide, bis (tertiary-butylperoxyisopropyl) benzene, a,a:bis (tertiary-butyl peroxydiisopropylbenzene, n-butyl-4,4-bis (tertiary-butylperoxy) valerate, dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (tertiary-butyl peroxy) hexane and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (tertiary-butyl peroxy) hexyne 3, and the like.

Other free radical catalysts which can be used include oxygen, ozone, chlorine, persulfates, inorganic peroxides, and azo compounds such as azobisisovaleronitrile. Certain of these compounds may be made more effective and efficient if used in conjunction with accelerators. Examples of accelerated systems may include benzoyl peroxide with dimethylaniline as an accelerator. Included in this class are reagents or components which are generated in situ in the composition.

The free radical catalyst is usually added in an amount ranging from about 0.0005 to about 25% by weight of the composition, with the preferred range being from about 0.5 to about 5% by weight.

The reaction is preferably conducted in the substantial absence of O₂ and water (to avoid competing side reactions), and to this end can be conducted in an atmosphere of dry N₂ gas or other gas inert under the reaction conditions. The reaction is also preferably conducted in the substantial absence of elemental sulfur to avoid poisoning of the free radical initiator can be charged separately or together as a mixture to the reaction zone, and the reaction can be carried out continuously, semi-continuously or batchwise. Although not generally necessary, the reaction can be carried out in the presence of a liquid diluent or solvent, e.g., a hydrocarbon diluent such as mineral lubricating oil, toluene, xylene, dichlorobenzene and the like. The polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material thus formed can be recovered from the liquid reaction mixture, e.g., after stripping the reaction mixture (e.g., at 150° to 200° C. for 1 to 2 hours) with N₂ or other inert gas to remove unreacted thio-substituted carboxylic acid material.

The reaction between the ethylene-propylene polymer and thiocarboxylic acid material in accordance with the process of this invention can be illustrated by the following equations (wherein POLY represents the balance of the polymer): ##STR8##

Normally, not all of the polyolefin reacts with the thiocarboxylic acid material and the reaction mixture will contain unreacted polymer. The unreacted polymer is typically not removed from the reaction mixture (because such removal is difficult and would be commercially infeasible) and the product mixture, stripped of any unreacted thiocarboxylic acid material is employed for further reaction with the amine or alcohol as described hereinafter to make the dispersant.

Characterization of the average number of moles of thiocarboxylic acid material which have reacted per mole of polymer charged to the reaction (whether it has undergone reaction or not) is defined herein as functionality. Said functionality is based upon (i) determination of the saponification number of the resulting product mixture using potassium hydroxide; and (ii) the number average molecular weight of the polymer charged, using techniques well known in the art. Functionality is defined solely with reference to the resulting product mixture. Although the amount of the reacted polymer contained in the resulting product mixture can be subsequently modified, i.e. increased or decreased by techniques known in the art, such modifications do not alter functionality as defined above. The term ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material is intended to refer to the product mixture whether it has undergone such modification or not.

Accordingly, the functionality of the ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material will be typically at least about 0.7, preferably at least about 0.8, and most preferably at least about 0.9 and will vary typically from about 0.7 to about 2.8 (e.g., 0.8 to 2), preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.4, and most preferably from about 0.9 to about 1.3.

The reaction product thereby obtained has been surprisingly found to have a substantially reduced content of sediment or other solid by-products as impurities and can be employed, without filtering, centrifuging, clarification, phase separation or other conventional product purification treatments, as, e.g., an additive to lubricating oils or as intermediate in the preparation of derivative products for use in lubricating oils, as will be more completely described hereinafter.

The reaction product is further improved by being substantially free of halogen, i.e., chlorine, that is, by having a chlorine content of less than about 25 ppm by weight, preferably less than about 10 ppm by weight.

The reaction product (e.g., ethylene-propylene polymer-substituted thio-succinic anhydride or ethylene-propylene polymer-substituted thio-acetic acid) formed by the process of this invention will generally contain unreacted polymer (that is, polymer which is not substituted with a thio group derived from the thiocarboxylic acid material) in a concentration of less than about 40 wt. % (e.g., from 5 to 35 wt. %), more preferably at less than about 30 wt. % (e.g. from 10 to 25 wt. %), and will be generally characterized by a VR value ("viscosity ratio" value) of not greater than about 4.1, usually not greater than about 4.0, preferably from about 2.0 to 3.9, and most preferably from about 3.0 to 3.8. As used herein, the term "VR value" is intended to mean quotient determined by the expression (IIIa): ##EQU1## wherein VISa is the kinematic viscosity (KV) of the ene reaction product mixture at 100° C. in units of centistokes (as determined by ASTM Method No. D445) and VISb is the cold cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity of the ene reaction product mixture at -20° C. in units of poise (as determined by ASTM Method No. D2602), wherein the measurements are made upon a 2 wt % solution of the ene reaction product mixture in an oil (herein termed the "reference oil") comprising S150N (solvent 150 neutral) mineral lubricating oil (Exxon Company U.S.A.), wherein the such reference oil is characterized by an ASTM D445 kinematic viscosity of 5.2 cSt (100° C.) and an ASTM D2602 CCS viscosity of 19.2 poise (±0.4 poise) (at -20° C.). The "VR_(r) " value of the reference oil will then be about 3.7±0.1.

Illustrative, therefore, of the improved dithiocarboxylic reaction products of this invention are the following ethylene-propylene polymer-substituted thiosuccinic acids and thiosuccinic anhydrides (EPTSA), ethylene-butene-1 polymer-substituted thiosuccinic acids and thiosuccinic anhydrides (EBTSA) are those summarized in Table A below:

                  TABLE A                                                          ______________________________________                                                                                   VR                                                     Residual Wt.   SA:Polymer                                                                              Val-                                 Ene    Polymer    Halide   % ai  Mole Ratio                                                                              ue                                   Product                                                                               (Mn)       (wppm)   (1)   (2)      (3)                                  ______________________________________                                         EPTSA    300-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTSA    300-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTSA   700-5,000 ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTSA   700-5,000 ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTSA  5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTSA  5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧70                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTSA  1,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              70-90 ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTSA    300-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTSA    300-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTSA   700-5,000 ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTSA   700-5,000 ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTSA  5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTSA  5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧70                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTSA  1,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              70-90 ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          ______________________________________                                          NOTES:                                                                         (1) Wt. % active ingredient.                                                   (2) TSA = thiosuccinic anhydride; polymer = ethylenepropylene (EP) or          ethylene butylene (EB) copolymer; moles of polymer in ratio based on the       total of both the reacted and unreacted polymer; moles of "TSA" based on       the number of moles of thiosuccinic anhydride moieties per mole of ene         reaction product.                                                        

Illustrative of the improved monothiocarboxylic acid reaction products of this invention are the following ethylene-propylene polymer-substituted thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids and ethylene-butene-1 polymer-substituted thio-substituted monocarboxylic acids are those summarized in Table B below:

                  TABLE B                                                          ______________________________________                                                                                   VR                                                     Residual Wt.   SA:Polymer                                                                              Val-                                 Ene    Polymer    Halide   % ai  Mole Ratio                                                                              ue                                   Product                                                                               (Mn)       (wppm)   (1)   (2)      (3)                                  ______________________________________                                         EPTAcH   300-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTPrH   300-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTAcH  700-5,000 ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTPrH  700-5,000 ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTAcH 5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EPTPrH 5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧70                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EPTAcH 1,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              70-90 ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTAcH   300-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTPrH   300-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTAcH  700-5,000 ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTPrH  700-5,000 ≦10                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTAcH 5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              ≧60                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.1                          EBTPrH 5,500-10,000                                                                              ≦10                                                                              ≧70                                                                           ≧0.7:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          EBTAcH 1,500-10,000                                                                              ≦25                                                                              70-90 ≧1.0:1                                                                           ≦4.0                          ______________________________________                                          NOTES:                                                                         (1) Wt. % active ingredient.                                                   (2) TAcH = thioacetic acid; TPrH = thiopropionic acid; polymer =               ethylenepropylene (EP) or ethylene butylene (EB) copolymer; moles of           polymer in ratio based on the total of both the reacted and unreacted          polymer; moles of "TAcH" and "TPrH" based on the number of moles of            thioacetic acid and thiopropionic acid moieties, respectively, per mole o      ene reaction product.                                                    

PREPARATION OF NUCLEOPHILICALLY-SUBSTITUTED DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS

The polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acids/anhydrides/esters of this invention, prepared as described above, can be contacted with a nucleophilic reactant, e.g., amines, alcohols, including polyols, amino-alcohols, metal compound, etc. to form the novel dispersants of this invention.

Amine compounds useful as nucleophilic reactants for reaction with the polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acids/anhydrides/esters of this invention include mono- and (preferably) polyamines, of about 2 to 60, preferably 2 to 40 (e.g. 3 to 20), total carbon atoms and about 1 to 12, preferably 3 to 12, and most preferably 3 to 9 nitrogen atoms in the molecule. These amines may be hydrocarbyl amines or may be hydrocarbyl amines including other groups, e.g., hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, amide groups, nitriles, imidazoline groups, and the like. Hydroxy amines with 1 to 6 hydroxy groups, preferably 1 to 3 hydroxy groups are particularly useful. Preferred amines are aliphatic saturated amines, including those of the general Formulas: ##STR9## wherein R, R', R" and R"' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; C₁ to C₂₅ straight or branched chain alkyl radicals; C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy C₂ to C₆ alkylene radicals; C₂ to C₁₂ hydroxy amino alkylene radicals; and C₁ to C₁₂ alkylamino C₂ to C₆ alkylene radicals; and wherein R"' can additionally comprise a moiety of the Formula: ##STR10## wherein R' is as defined above, and wherein r and r' can be the same or a different number of from 2 to 6, preferably 2 to 4; and t and t' can be the same or different and are numbers of from 0 to 10, preferably 2 to 7, and most preferably about 3 to 7, with the proviso that the sum of t and t' is not greater than 15. To assure a facile reaction, it is preferred that R, R', R", R"', r, r', t and t' be selected in a manner sufficient to provide the compounds of Formulas IV and V with typically at least one primary or secondary amine group, preferably at least two primary or secondary amine groups. This can be achieved by selecting at least one of said R, R', R" or R"' groups to be hydrogen or by letting t in Formula V be at least one when R"' is H or when the VI moiety possesses a secondary amino group. The most preferred amine of the above Formulas are represented by Formula V and contain at least two primary amine groups and at least one, and preferably at least three, secondary amine groups.

Non-limiting examples of suitable amine compounds include: 1,2-diaminoethane; 1,3-diaminopropane; 1,4-diaminobutane; 1,6-diaminohexane; polyethylene amines such as diethylene triamine; triethylene tetramine; tetraethylene pentamine; polypropylene amines such as 1,2-propylene diamine; di-(1,2-propylene)triamine; di-(1,3-propylene) triamine; N,N-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane; N,N-di-(2-aminoethyl) ethylene diamine; N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-propylene diamine; 3-dodeoyloxypropylamine; N-dodecyl-1,3-propane diamine; tris hydroxymethylaminomethane (THAM); diisopropanol amine: diethanol amine; triethanol amine; mono-, di-, and tri-tallow amines; amino morpholines such as N-(3-aminopropyl)morpholine; and mixtures thereof.

Other useful amine compounds include: alicyclic diamines such as 1,4-di(aminomethyl) cyclohexane, and heterocyclic nitrogen compounds such as imidazolines, and N-aminoalkyl piperazines of the general Formula (VII): ##STR11## wherein p₁ and p₂ are the same or different and are each integers of from 1 to 4, and n₁, n₂ and n₃ are the same or different and are each integers of from 1 to 3. Non-limiting examples of such amines include 2-pentadecyl imidazoline; N-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine; etc.

Commercial mixtures of amine compounds may advantageously be used. For example, one process for preparing alkylene amines involves the reaction of an alkylene dihalide (such as ethylene dichloride or propylene dichloride) with ammonia, which results in a complex mixture of alkylene amines wherein pairs of nitrogens are joined by alkylene groups, forming such compounds as diethylene triamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylene pentamine and isomeric piperazines. Low cost poly(ethyleneamines) compounds averaging about 5 to 7 nitrogen atoms per molecule are available commercially under trade names such as "Polyamine H", "Polyamine 400", "Dow Polyamine E-100", etc.

Useful amines also include polyoxyalkylene polyamines such as those of the Formula (VIII): ##STR12## where m has a value of about 3 to 70 and preferably 10 to 35; and the Formula (IX): ##STR13## where n"' has a value of about 1 to 40 with the provision that the sum of all the n"' values is from about 3 to about 70 and preferably from about 6 to about 35, and R⁴ is a polyvalent saturated hydrocarbon radical of up to ten carbon atoms wherein the number of substituents on the R⁴ group is represented by the value of "a", which is a number of from 3 to 6. The alkylene groups in either Formula (VII) or (IX) may be straight or branched chains containing about 2 to 7, and preferably about 2 to 4 carbon atoms.

The polyoxyalkylene polyamines of Formulas (VII) or (IX) above, preferably polyoxyalkylene diamines and polyoxyalkylene triamines, may have average molecular weights ranging from about 200 to about 4000 and preferably from about 400 to about 2000. The preferred polyoxyalkylene polyoxyalkylene polyamines include the polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene diamines and the polyoxypropylene triamines having average molecular weights ranging from about 200 to 2000. The polyoxyalkylene polyamines are commercially available and may be obtained, for example, from the Jefferson Chemical Company, Inc. under the trade name "Jeffamines D-230, D-400, D-1000, D-2000, T-403", etc.

A particularly useful class of amines are the polyamido and related amines disclosed in co-pending Ser. No. 126,405, filed Nov. 30, 1987, which comprise reaction products of a polyamine and an alpha, beta unsaturated compound of the Formula: ##STR14## wherein X is sulfur or oxygen, Y is --OR⁸, --SR⁸, or --NR⁸ (R⁹), and R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl. Any polyamine, whether aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, etc., can be employed provided it is capable of adding across the acrylic double bond and amidifying with for example the carbonyl group (--C(O)--) of the acrylate-type compound of Formula X, or with the thiocarbonyl group (--C(S)--) of the thioacrylate-type compound of Formula X.

When R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ or R⁹ in Formula X are hydrocarbyl, these groups can comprise alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or heterocyclic, which can be substituted with groups which are substantially inert to any component of the reaction mixture under conditions selected for preparation of the amido-amine. Such substituent groups include hydroxy, halide (e.g., Cl, Fl, I, Br), --SH and alkylthio. When one or more of R⁵ through R⁹ are alkyl, such alkyl groups can be straight or branched chain, and will generally contain from 1 to 20, more usually from 1 to 10, and preferably from 1 to 4, carbon atoms. Illustrative of such alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl and the like. When one or more of R⁵ through R⁹ are aryl, the aryl group will generally contain from 6 to 10 carbon atoms (e.g., phenyl, naphthyl).

When one or more of R⁵ through R⁹ are alkaryl, the alkaryl group will generally contain from about 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and preferably from 7 to 12 carbon atoms. Illustrative of such alkaryl groups are tolyl, m-ethylphenyl, o-ethyltolyl, and m-hexyltolyl. When one or more of R⁵ through R⁹ are aralkyl, the aryl component generally consists of phenyl or (C₁ to C₆) alkyl-substituted phenol and the alkyl component generally contains from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of such aralkyl groups are benzyl, o-ethylbenzyl, and 4-isobutylbenzyl. When one or more of R⁵ and R⁹ are cycloalkyl, the cycloalkyl group will generally contain from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Illustrative of such cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, and cyclododecyl. When one or more of R⁵ through R⁹ are heterocyclic, the heterocyclic group generally consists of a compound having at least one ring of 6 to 12 members in which on or more ring carbon atoms is replaced by oxygen or nitrogen. Examples of such heterocyclic groups are furyl, pyranyl, pyridyl, piperidyl, dioxanyl, tetrahydrofuryl, pyrazinyl and 1.4-oxazinyl.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR15## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of such alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate compounds of Formula XI are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, the methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, and isobutyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, 2-butenoic acid, 2-hexenoic acid, 2-decenoic acid, 3-methyl-2-heptenoic acid, 3-methyl-2-butenoic acid, 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-butenoic acid, 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, 2-propyl-2-propenoic acid, 2-isopropyl-2-hexenoic acid, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenoic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-methyl-2-pentenoic acid, 2-propenoic acid, methyl 2-propenoate, methyl 2-methyl 2-propenoate, methyl 2-butenoate, ethyl 2-hexenoate, isopropyl 2-decenoate, phenyl 2-pentenoate, tertiary butyl 2-propenoate, octadecyl 2-propenoate, dodecyl 2-decenoate, cyclopropyl 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenoate, methyl 3-phenyl-2-propenoate, and the like.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate thioester compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR16## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of such alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate thioesters of Formula XII are methylmercapto 2-butenoate, ethylmercapto 2-hexenoate, isopropylmercapto 2-decenoate, phenylmercapto 2-pentenoate, tertiary butylmercapto 2-propenoate, octadecylmercapto 2-propenoate, dodecylmercapto 2-decenoate, cyclopropylmercapto 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenoate, methylmercapto 3-phenyl-2-propenoate, methylmercapto 2-propenoate, methylmercapto 2-methyl-2-propenoate, and the like.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxyamide compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR17## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxyamides of Formula XIII are 2-butenamide, 2-hexenamide, 2-decenamide, 3 -methyl-2-heptenamide, 3-methyl-2-butenamide, 3-phenyl-2-propenamide, 3-cyclohexyl-2-butenamide, 2-methyl-2-butenamide, 2-propyl-2-propenamide, 2-isopropyl-2-hexenamide, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenamide, 3-cyclohexyl-2-methyl-2-pentenamide, N-methyl 2-butenamide, N,N-diethyl 2-hexenamide, N-isopropyl 2-decenamide, N-phenyl 2-pentenamide, N-tertiary butyl 2-propenamide, N-octadecyl 2-propenamide, N-N-didodecyl 2-decenamide, N-cyclopropyl 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenamide, N-methyl 3-phenyl-2-propenamide, 2-propenamide, 2-methyl-2-propenamide, 2-ethyl-2-propenamide and the like.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated thiocarboxylate compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR18## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated thiocarboxylate compounds of Formula XIV are 2-butenthioic acid, 2-hexenthioic acid, 2-decenthioic acid, 3-methyl-2-heptenthioic acid, 3-methyl-2-butenthioic acid, 3-phenyl-2-propenthioic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-butenthioic acid, 2-methyl-2-butenthioic acid, 2-propyl-2-propenthioic acid, 2-isopropyl-2-hexenthioic acid, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenthioic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-methyl-2-pententhioic acid, 2-propenthioic acid, methyl 2-propenthioate, methyl 2-methyl 2-propenthioate, methyl 2-butenthioate, ethyl 2-hexenthioate, isopropyl 2-decenthioate, phenyl 2-pententhioate, tertiary butyl 2-propenthioate, octadecyl 2-propenthioate, dodecyl 2-decenthioate, cyclopropyl 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenthioate, methyl 3-phenyl-2-propenthioate, and the like.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated dithioic acid and acid ester compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR19## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated dithioic acids and acid esters of Formula XV are 2-butendithioic acid, 2-hexendithioic acid, 2-decendithioic acid, 3-methyl-2-heptendithioic acid, 3-methyl-2-butendithioic acid, 3-phenyl-2-propendithioic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-butendithioic acid, 2-methyl-2-butendithioic acid, 2-propyl-2-propendithioic acid, 2-isopropyl-2-hexendithioic acid, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butendithioic acid, 3-cyclohexyl-2-methyl-2-pentendithioic acid, 2-propendithioic acid, methyl 2-propendithioate, methyl 2-methyl 2-propendithioate, methyl 2-butendithioate, ethyl 2-hexendithioate, isopropyl 2-decendithioate, phenyl 2-pentendithioate, tertiary butyl 2-propendithioate, octadecyl 2-propendithioate, dodecyl 2-decendithioate, cyclopropyl 2,3-dimethyl-2-butendithioate, methyl 3-phenyl-2-propendithioate, and the like.

The alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated thiocarboxyamide compounds employed herein have the following Formula: ##STR20## wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are the same or different and are hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl as defined above. Examples of alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated thiocarboxyamides of Formula XVI are 2-butenthioamide, 2-hexenthioamide, 2-decenthioamide, 3-methyl-2-heptenthioamide, 3-methyl-2-butenthioamide, 3-phenyl-2-propenthioamide, 3-cyclohexyl-2-butenthioamide, 2-methyl-2-butenthioamide, 2-propyl-2-propenthioamide, 2-isopropyl-2-hexenthioamide, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenthioamide, 3-cyclohexyl-2-methyl-2-pententhioamide, N-methyl 2-butenthioamide, N,N-diethyl 2-hexenthioamide, N-isopropyl 2-decenthioamide, N-phenyl 2-pententhioamide, N-tertiary butyl 2-propenthioamide, N-octadecyl 2-propenthioamide, N-N-didodecyl 2-decenthioamide, N-cyclopropyl 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenthioamide, N-methyl 3-phenyl-2-propenthioamide, 2-propenthioamide, 2-methyl-2-propenthioamide, 2-ethyl-2-propenthioamide and the like.

Preferred compounds for reaction with the polyamines in accordance with this invention are lower alkyl esters of acrylic and (lower alkyl) substituted acrylic acid. Illustrative of such preferred compounds are compounds of the Formula: ##STR21## where R⁷ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, such as methyl, and R⁴ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl group, capable of being removed so as to form an amido group, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, aryl, hexyl, etc. In the preferred embodiments these compounds are acrylic and methacrylic esters such as methyl or ethyl acrylate, methyl or ethyl methacrylate. When the selected alpha, beta-unsaturated compound comprises a compound of Formula X wherein X' is oxygen, the resulting reaction product with the polyamine contains at least one amido linkage (--C(O)N<) and such materials are herein termed "amido-amines." Similarly, when the selected alpha, beta unsaturated compound of Formula X comprises a compound wherein X' is sulfur, the resulting reaction product with the polyamine contains thioamide linkage (--C(S)N<) and these materials are herein termed "thioamido-amines." For convenience, the following discussion is directed to the preparation and use of amido-amines, although it will be understood that such discussion is also applicable to the thioamido-amines.

The type of amido-amine formed varies with reaction conditions. For example, a more linear amido-amine is formed where substantially equimolar amounts of the unsaturated carboxylate and polyamine are reacted. The presence of excesses of the ethylenically unsaturated reactant of Formula X tends to yield an amido-amine which is more cross-linked than that obtained where substantially equimolar amounts of reactants are employed. Where for economic or other reasons a cross-linked amido-amine using excess amine is desired, generally a molar excess of the ethylenically unsaturated reactant of about at least 10%, such as 10-300%, or greater, for example, 25-200%, is employed. For more efficient cross-linking an excess of carboxylated material should preferably be used since a cleaner reaction ensues. For example, a molar excess of about 10-100% or greater such as 10-50%, but preferably an excess of 30-50%, of the carboxylated material. Larger excess can be employed if desired.

In summary, without considering other factors, equimolar amounts of reactants tend to produce a more linear amido-amine whereas excess of the Formula XII reactant tends to yield a more cross-linked amido-amine. It should be noted that the higher the polyamine (i.e., in greater the number of amino groups on the molecule) the greater the statistical probability of cross-linking since, for example, a tetraalkylenepentamine, such as tetraethylene pentamine ##STR22## has more labile hydrogens than ethylene diamine.

These amido-amine adducts so formed are characterized by both amido and amino groups. In their simplest embodiments they may be represented by units of the following idealized Formula (XVIII): ##STR23## wherein the R¹⁰ 's, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or a substituted group, such as a hydrocarbon group, for example, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, etc., and A is a moiety of the polyamine which, for example, may be aryl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, etc., and n₄ is an integer such as 1-10 or greater.

The above simplified Formula represents a linear amido-amine polymer. However, cross-linked polymers may also be formed by employing certain conditions since the polymer has labile hydrogens which can further react with either the unsaturated moiety by adding across the double bond or by amidifying with a carboxylate group.

Preferably, however, the amido-amines employed in this invention are not cross-linked to any substantial degree, and more preferably are substantially linear.

Preferably, the polyamine reactant contains at least one primary amine (and more preferably from 2 to 4 primary amines) group per molecule, and the polyamine and the unsaturated reactant of Formula X are contacted in an amount of from about 1 to 10, more preferably from about 2 to 6, and most preferably from about 3 to 5, equivalents of primary amine in the polyamine reactant per mole of the unsaturated reactant of Formula X.

The reaction between the selected polyamine and acrylate-type compound is carried out at any suitable temperature. Temperatures up to the decomposition points of reactants and products can be employed. In practice, one generally carries out the reaction by heating the reactants below 100° C., such as 80°-90° C., for a suitable period of time, such as a few hours. Where an acrylic-type ester is employed, the progress of the reaction can be judged by the removal of the alcohol in forming the amide. During the early part of the reaction alcohol is removed quite readily below 100° C. in the case of low boiling alcohols such as methanol or ethanol. As the reaction slows, the temperature is raised to push the polymerization to completion and the temperature may be raised to 150° C. toward the end of the reaction. Removal of alcohol is a convenient method of judging the progress and completion of the reaction which is generally continued until no more alcohol is evolved. Based on removal of alcohol, the yields are generally stoichiometric. In more difficult reactions, yield of at least 95% are generally obtained.

Similarly, it will be understood that the reaction of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylate thioester of Formula XII liberates the corresponding HSR⁸ compound (e.g., H₂ S when R⁸ is hydrogen) as a by-product, and the reaction of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxyamide of Formula XIII liberates the corresponding HNR⁸ (R⁹) compound (e.g., ammonia when R⁸ and R⁹ are each hydrogen) as by-product.

The reaction time involved can vary widely depending on a wide variety of factors. For example, there is a relationship between time and temperature. In general, lower temperature demands longer times. Usually, reaction times of from about 2 to 30 hours, such as 5 to 25 hours, and preferably 3 to 10 hours will be employed.

Although one can employ a solvent, the reaction can be run without the use of any solvent. In fact, where a high degree of cross-linking is desired, it is preferably to avoid the use of a solvent and most particularly to avoid a polar solvent such as water. However, taking into consideration the effect of solvent on the reaction, where desired, any suitable solvent can be employed, whether organic or inorganic, polar or non-polar.

As an example of the amido-amine adducts, the reaction of tetraethylene pentaamine (TEPA) with methyl methacrylate can be illustrated as follows: ##STR24##

Preparation of the Dispersant

The amine is readily reacted with the selected ethylene-propylene polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material by reacting an oil solution containing 5 to 95 wt. % of the polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material at about 100° to 250° C., preferably 125° to 175° C., generally for 1 to 10, e.g., 2 to 6 hours until the desired amount of water is removed. The heating is preferably carried out to favor formation of imides or mixtures of imides and amides, rather than amides and salts. Reaction ratios of polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material to equivalents of amine as well as the other nucleophilic reactants described herein can vary considerably, depending on the reactants and type of bonds formed. Generally from 0.05 to 1.0, preferably from about 0.1 to 0.6, e.g., 0.2 to 0.4, moles of thiocarboxylic acid moiety content (e.g., grafted maleic anhydride content) is used, per equivalent of nucleophilic reactant, e.g., amine. For example, about 0.8 mole of a pentamine (having two primary amino groups and 5 equivalents of nitrogen per molecule) is preferably used to convert into a mixture of amides and imides, the product formed by reacting one mole of polymer with sufficient thioacetic acid to add 1.6 moles of thioacetate groups per mole of polymer, i.e., preferably the pentamine is used in an amount sufficient to provide about 0.4 mole (that is 1.6/[0.8×5] mole) of thiocarboxylate moiety per nitrogen equivalent of the amine.

If an amido-amine, as above, is employed, generally from 1 to 5, preferably from about 1.5 to 3 moles of thiocarboxylic acid moiety content (e.g., grafted thioacetate content) is used per equivalent of amido-amine reactant, e.g., amine.

An example of the reaction of an amido-amine reactant with a polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material is the reaction of ethylene-propylene copolymer substituted thioacetate (EPTAc) with a polyamido-amine having two terminal --NH₂ groups, which can be illustrated as follows: ##STR25## wherein x and y are each integers of from 0 to 10, Z" represents the moiety:

    EP--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --S--

wherein EP represents an ethylene-propylene copolymer group as described above, Z¹ and Z² are moieties of the Formula: ##STR26## wherein R¹⁰, A and n⁴ are as defined above for Formula XVIII. Preferred are amido-amine reaction products of the above equation wherein R¹⁰ is H, and most preferably wherein x and y are each zero, and A is --(CH₂)₂ -- or --(C₃ H₇)--.

It will be understood that the amine reactant can comprise one or a mixture of any of the above described amines, such as a mixture of an amido-amine and a polyalkylene polyamine. Preferably, the polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid producing material and amine will be contacted for a time and under conditions sufficient to react substantially all of the primary nitrogens in the amine reactant. The progress of this reaction can be followed by infrared analysis.

The dispersant-forming reaction can be conducted in a polar or non-polar solvent (e.g., xylene, toluene, benzene and the like), and is preferably conducted in the presence of a mineral or synthetic lubricating oil.

Tris(hydroxymethyl) amino methane (THAM) can be reacted with the aforesaid polymer substituted acid material to form amides, imides or ester type additives as taught by U.K. 984,409, or to form oxazoline compounds and borated oxazoline compounds as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,102,798; 4,116,876 and 4,113,639.

The ashless dispersants may also be esters derived from the aforesaid ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material and from hydroxy compounds such as monohydric and polyhydric alcohols or aromatic compounds such as phenols and naphthols, etc. The polyhydric alcohols are the most preferred hydroxy compound and preferably contain from 2 to about 10 hydroxy radicals, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and other alkylene glycols in which the alkylene radical contains from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms. Other useful polyhydric alcohols include glycerol, mono-oleate of glycerol, monostearate of glycerol, monomethyl ether of glycerol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, and mixtures thereof.

The ester dispersant may also be derived from unsaturated alcohols such as allyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, propargyl alcohol, 1-cyclohexane-3-ol, and oleyl alcohol. Still other classes of the alcohols capable of yielding the esters of this invention comprise the ether-alcohols and amino-alcohols including, for example, the oxy-alkylene, oxy-arylene-, amino-alkylene-, and amino-arylene-substituted alcohols having one or more oxy-alkylene, amino-alkylene or amino-arylene oxy-arylene radicals. They are exemplified by Cellosolve, Carbitol, N,N,N',N'-tetrahydroxy-trimethylene di-amine, and ether-alcohols having up to about 150 oxy-alkylene radicals in which the alkylene radical contains from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

The ester dispersant may be di-esters of succinic acids or acidic esters, i.e., partially esterified succinic acids; as well as partially esterified polyhydric alcohols or phenols, i.e., esters having free alcohols or phenolic hydroxyl radicals. Mixtures of the above illustrated esters likewise are contemplated within the scope of this invention.

The ester dispersant may be prepared by one of several known methods as illustrated for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,022. The ester dispersant may also be borated, similar to the nitrogen containing dispersants, as described above.

Hydroxyamines which can be reacted with the aforesaid ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid material to form dispersants include 2-amino -1 -butanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, p-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-aniline, 2-amino-1-propanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propane-diol, 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, N-(beta-hydroxy-propyl)-N'-(beta-amino-ethyl)-piperazine, tris(hydroxymethyl) amino-methane (also known as trismethylolaminomethane) 2-amino-1-butanol, ethanolamine, beta-(beta-hydroxyethoxy)-ethylamine, and the like. Mixtures of these or similar amines can also be employed. The above description of nucleophilic reactants suitable for reaction with the ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted thiocarboxylic acid or anhydride includes amines, alcohols, and compounds of mixed amine and hydroxy containing reactive functional groups, i.e., amino-alcohols.

A preferred group of ashless dispersants are those derived from ethylene-propylene copolymer substituted with thiocarboxylic acid or anhydride groups and reacted with polyethylene amines, e.g., tetraethylene pentamine, pentaethylene hexamine, polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene amines, e.g., polyoxypropylene diamine, trismethylolaminomethane and pentaerythritol, and combinations thereof. One particularly preferred dispersant combination involves a combination of (A) ethylene-propylene copolymer substituted with thioacetate groups and reacted with (B) a hydroxy compound, e.g., pentaerythritol, (C) a polyoxyalkylene polyamine, e.g., polyoxypropylene diamine, and (D) a polyalkylene polyamine, e.g. polyethylene diamine and tetraethylene pentamine using about 0.3 to about 2 moles each of (B) and (D) and about 0.3 to about 2 moles of (C) per mole of (A) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,763. Another preferred dispersant combination involves the combination of (A) ethylene-propylene copolymer substituted with thioacetate groups with (B) a polyalkylene polyamine, e.g.. tetraethylene pentamine, and (C) a polyhydric alcohol or polyhydroxy-substituted aliphatic primary amine, e.g., pentaerythritol or trismethylolaminomethane as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,511.

The dispersant materials of this invention are preferably characterized by a VR' value of not greater than about 4.1, preferably not greater than about 4.0, e.g., from about 2.5 to 4.0, and most preferably from about 3.5 to 3.9. As used herein, the term "VR' value" is intended to refer to the quotient obtained by the expression (XIX): ##EQU2## wherein VIS'a is the kinematic viscosity (ASTM Method D445) of the dispersant material at 100° C. in units of centistokes, and VIS'b is the cold cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity (ASTM Method D2602) at -20° C. in units of poise, as determined at a dispersant material polymer concentration of 2 wt. % in the reference oil as defined above for Formula IIIa. Preferably, the disperant materials of this invention are also characterized by a VR'/VR_(r) ratio of not greater than about 1.11, more preferably not greater than about 1.09, still more preferably from about 0.7 to 1.08 and most preferably from about 0.9 to 1.05, wherein VR_(r) =3.7±0.1 for the reference oil.

Another aspect of this invention involves the post treatment of the nitrogen or ester containing dispersant materials. The process for post-treating said nitrogen or ester containing dispersant materials is analogous to the post-treating processes used with respect to derivatives of conventional ethylene copolymers of the prior art. Accordingly, the same reaction conditions, ratio of reactants and the like can be used.

The nitrogen-containing dispersant materials of the instant invention as described above are post-treated by contacting said nitrogen-containing dispersant materials with one or more post-treating reagents selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, boron oxide hydrate, boron halides, boron acids, esters of boron acids, carbon disulfide, sulfur, sulfur chlorides, alkenyl cyanides, aldehydes, ketones, urea, thio-urea, guanidine, dicyanodiamide, hydrocarbyl phosphates, hydrocarbyl phosphites, hydrocarbyl thiophosphates, hydrocarbyl thiophosphites, C₁ to C₃₀ hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acids and anhydrides (e.g., succinic anhydride, dodecyl succinic anhydride and the like), maleic anhydride (or any of the above discussed C₄ to C₁₀ dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester materials useful in forming the ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer-substituted thiocarboxylic acid materials employed in this invention), phosphorus sulfides, phosphorus oxides, phosphoric acid, hydrocarbyl thiocyanates, hydrocarbyl isocyanates, hydrocarbyl isothiocyantes, epoxides, episulfides, formaldehyde or formaldehyde-producing compounds plus phenols, and sulfur plus phenols. The same post-treating reagents are used with the dispersant materials prepared from a combination of polyamines and polyols. However, when the dispersant materials are derived from polyols, and that is, when they are esters, the post-treating reagents are usually selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, boron oxide hydrate, boron halides, boron acids, esters of boron acids, sulfur, sulfur chlorides, phosphorus sulfides, phosphorus oxides, epoxides, and episulfides.

For example, the nitrogen containing dispersants can be treated with a boron compound selected from the class consisting of boron oxide, boron halides, boron acids and esters of boron acids in an amount to provide from about 0.1 atomic proportion of boron for each mole of said nitrogen composition to about 20 atomic proportions of boron for each atomic proportion of nitrogen of said nitrogen composition. Usefully the borated dispersants of the invention contain from about 0.05 to 2.0 wt. %, e.g. 0.05 to 0.7 wt. % boron based on the total weight of said borated nitrogen-containing dispersant compound. The boron, which appears to be in the product as dehydrated boric acid polymers (primarily (HBO₂)₃), is believed to attach to the dispersant as amine salts, e.g., the metaborate salt of said amine dispersants.

Treating is readily carried out by adding from about 0.05 to 4, e.g. 1 to 3 wt. % (based on the weight of said nitrogen compound) of said boron compound, preferably boric acid which is most usually added as a slurry to said nitrogen compound and heating with stirring at from about 135° C. to 190°, e.g. 140°-170° C., for from 1 to 5 hours followed by nitrogen stripping at said temperature ranges. Or, the boron treatment can be carried out by adding boric acid to the hot reaction mixture of the dicarboxylic acid material and amine while removing water.

Since post-treating processes involving the use of these post-treating reagents is known insofar as application to reaction products of high molecular weight carboxylic acid acylating agents of the prior art and amines and/or alcohols, further descriptions of these processes herein is unnecessary. In order to apply the prior art processes to the compositions of this invention, all that is necessary is that reaction conditions, ratio of reactants, and the like as described in the prior art, be applied to the novel compositions of this invention. The following U.S. patents are expressly incorporated herein by reference for their disclosure of post-treating processes and post-treating reagents applicable to the compositions of this invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,087,936; 3,200,107; 3,254,025; 3,256,185; 3,278,550; 3,281,428; 3,282,955; 3,284,410; 3,338,832, 3,344,069; 3,366,569; 3,373,111; 3,367,943; 3,403,102; 3,428,561; 3,502,677; 3,513,093; 3,533,945; 3,541,012; 3,639,242; 3,708,522; 3,859,318; 3,865,813; 3,470,098; 3,369,021; 3,184,411; 3,185,645; 3,245,908; 3,245,909; 3,245,910; 3,573,205; 3,692,681; 3,749,695; 3,865,740; 3,954,639; 3,458,530; 3,390,086; 3,367,943; 3,185,704, 3,551,466; 3,415,750; 3,312,619; 3,280,034; 3,718,663; 3,652,616; UK Pat. No. 1,085,903; UK Pat. No. 1,162,436; U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,743.

The nitrogen and/or ester containing dispersant materials of this invention can also be treated with polymerizable lactones (such as epsilon-caprolactone) to form dispersant adducts having the moiety --[C(O)(CH₂)_(z) O]_(m) H, wherein z is a number of from 4 to 8 (e.g., 5 to 7) and m has an average value of from about 0 to 100 (e.g., 0.2 to 20). The dispersants of this invention can be post-treated with a C₅ to C₉ lactone, e.g., epsilon-caprolactone, by heating a mixture of the dispersant material and lactone in a reaction vessel in the absence of a solvent at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 200° C., more preferably from about 75° C. to about 180° C., and most preferably from about 90° C. to about 160° C., for a sufficient period of time to effect reaction. Optionally, a solvent for the lactone, dispersant material and/or the resulting adduct may be employed to control viscosity and/or the reaction rates.

In one preferred embodiment, the C₅ to C₉ lactone, e.g., epsilon-caprolactone, is reacted with a dispersant material in a 1:1 mole ratio of lactone to dispersant material. In practice, the ration of lactone to dispersant material may vary considerably as a means of controlling the length of the sequence of the lactone units in the adduct. For example, the mole ratio of the lactone to the dispersant material may vary from about 10:1 to about 0.1:1, more preferably from about 5:1 to about 0.2:1, and most preferably from about 2:1 to about 0.4:1. It is preferable to maintain the average degree of polymerization of the lactone monomer below about 100, with a degree of polymerization on the order of from about 0.2 to about 50 being preferred, and from about 0.2 to about 20 being more preferred. For optimum dispersant performance, sequences of from about 1 to about 5 lactone units in a row are preferred.

Catalysts useful in the promotion of the lactone-dispersant material reactions are selected from the group consisting of stannous octanoate, stannous hexanoate, tetrabutyl titanate, a variety of organic based acid catalysts and amine catalysts, as described on page 266, and forward, in a book chapter authored by R. D. Lundberg and E. F. Cox, entitled "Kinetics and Mechanisms of Polymerization: Ring Opening Polymerization", edited by Frisch and Reegen, published by Marcel Dekker in 1969, wherein stannous octanoate is an especially preferred catalyst. The catalyst is added to the reaction mixture at a concentration level of about 50 to about 10,000 parts per weight of catalyst per one million parts of the total reaction mixture.

Exemplary of adducts formed by reaction of dispersant materials if this invention and epsilon-caprolactone are those adducts illustrated by the following equation: ##STR27## wherein m and Z" are as defined above. The reactions of such lactones with dispersant materials containing nitrogen or ester groups is more completely described in copending applications Ser. Nos. 916,108; 916,217; 916,218; 916,287; 916,303; 916,113; and 916,114, all filed on Oct. 7, 1986; and co-pending Ser. No. 178,099 filed on Apr. 6, 1988; the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Further aspects of the present invention reside in the formation of metal complexes of the novel dispersant additives prepared in accordance with this invention. Suitable metal complexes may be formed in accordance with known techniques of employing a reactive metal ion species during or after the formation of the present dispersant materials. Complex forming metal reactants include the metal nitrates, thiocyanates, halides, carboxylates, phosphates, thio-phosphates, sulfates, and borates of transition metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, tungsten, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, cadmium, lead, silver, mercury, antimony and the like. Prior art disclosures of these complexing reactions may be also found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,908 and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,433, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The processes of these incorporated patents, as applied to the compositions of this invention, and the post-treated compositions thus produced constitute a further aspect of this invention.

As a further feature of the present invention, the (A) ethlyene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted mono- and di-carboxylic acid materials of this invention can be admixed, prior to, after or during being contacted with the selected thiocarboxylic acid material, with (B) a conventional polyolefin-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid material derived from any of the polyolefins discussed above as being useful as a mixed charge with the ethenylenically unsaturated ethylene-alpha-olefin polymers in the formation of the ethlyene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted mono- and di-carboxylic acid materials of this invention. The ethlyene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted mono- and di-carboxylic acid materials of this invention and the polyolefin-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid material will be generally admixed prior to contact with the selected thiocarboxylic acid material, e.g., alkylene polyamine. Such mixtures will generally employ a weight:weight ratio of ethlyene-alpha-olefin polymer substituted mono- and di-carboxylic acid materials of this invention to polyolefin-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid material from about 10:90 to 90:10, preferably from about 20:80 to 80:20, and more preferably from about 40:60 to 60:40. Especially preferred are mixtures of ethylene-propylene copolymer-substituted succinic anhydride materials of this invention and polybutyl-substituted succinic anhydride (derived from polyisobutylene, poly-n-butene, or mixtures thereof, having a number average molecular weight as described above for the above conventional polyolefins, e.g., 900-5,000). The resulting mixtures can then be contacted for reaction with the selected thiocarboxylic acid material as described above for formation of dispersant materials having improved viscosity properties, wherein the VR' of the resulting dispersant material is preferably less than the VR' of the corresponding dispersant prepared from the polyolefin-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid material alone. The resulting mixed dispersant materials can also be treated with any of the above-described post-treatment methods for incorporation of additional functional groups thereon, such as boron, hydroxy, ester, epoxy, lactone, sulfur, metals and the like, as discussed above.

The dispersants of the present invention can be incorporated into a lubricating oil in any convenient way. Thus, these mixtures can be added directly to the oil by dispersing or dissolving the same in the oil at the desired level of concentrations of the dispersant and detergent, respectively. Such blending into the additional lube oil can occur at room temperature or elevated temperatures. Alternatively, the dispersants can be blended with a suitable oil-soluble solvent and base oil to form a concentrate, and then blending the concentrate with a lubricating oil basestock to obtain the final formulation. Such dispersant concentrates will typically contain (on an active ingredient (A.I.) basis) from about 20 to about 60 wt. %, and preferably from about 40 to about 50 wt. %, dispersant additive, and typically from about 40 to 80 wt. %, preferably from about 40 to 60 wt. %, base oil, based on the concentrate weight.

The lubricating oil basestock for the dispersant typically is adapted to perform a selected function by the incorporation of additional additives therein to form lubricating oil compositions (i.e., formulations).

LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS

The additive mixtures of the present invention possess very good dispersant properties as measured herein in a wide variety of environments. Accordingly, the additive mixtures are used by incorporation and dissolution into an oleaginous material such as fuels and lubricating oils. When the additive mixtures of this invention are used in normally liquid petroleum fuels such as middle distillates boiling from about 65° to 430° C., including kerosene, diesel fuels, home heating fuel oil, jet fuels, etc., a concentration of the additives in the fuel in the range of typically from about 0.001 to about 0.5, and preferably 0.005 to about 0.15 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition, will usually be employed.

The additive mixtures of the present invention find their primary utility in lubricating oil compositions which employ a base oil in which the additives are dissolved or dispersed. Such base oils may be natural or synthetic. Base oils suitable for use in preparing the lubricating oil compositions of the present invention include those conventionally employed as crankcase lubricating oils for spark-ignited and compression-ignited internal combustion engines, such as automobile and truck engines, marine and railroad diesel engines, and the like. Advantageous results are also achieved by employing the additive mixtures of the present invention in base oils conventionally employed in and/or adapted for use as power transmitting fluids, universal tractor fluids and hydraulic fluids, heavy duty hydraulic fluids, power steering fluids and the like. Gear lubricants, industrial oils, pump oils and other lubricating oil compositions can also benefit from the incorporation therein of the additive mixtures of the present invention.

These lubricating oil formulations conventionally contain several different types of additives that will supply the characteristics that are required in the formulations. Among these types of additives are included viscosity index improvers, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, dispersants, pour point depressants, antiwear agents, friction modifiers, and other ashless dispersants (e.g., polyisobutenyl succinimides) and borated derivatives thereof, etc.

In the preparation of lubricating oil formulations it is common practice to introduce the additives in the form of 10 to 80 wt. %, e.g., 20 to 80 wt. % active ingredient concentrates in hydrocarbon oil, e.g. mineral lubricating oil, or other suitable solvent. Usually these concentrates may be diluted with 3 to 100, e.g., 5 to 40 parts by weight of lubricating oil, per part by weight of the additive package, in forming finished lubricants, e.g. crankcase motor oils. The purpose of concentrates, of course, is to make the handling of the various materials less difficult and awkward as well as to facilitate solution or dispersion in the final blend. Thus, a dispersant would be usually employed in the form of a 40 to 50 wt. % concentrate, for example, in a lubricating oil fraction.

The dispersants of the present invention will be generally used in admixture with a lube oil basestock, comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity, including natural and synthetic lubricating oils and mixtures thereof.

Natural oils include animal oils and vegetable oils (e.g., castor, lard oil) liquid petroleum oils and hydrorefined, solvent-treated or acid-treated mineral lubricating oils of the paraffinic, naphthenic and mixed paraffinic-naphthenic types. Oils of lubricating viscosity derived from coal or shale are also useful base oils.

Alkylene oxide polymers and interpolymers and derivatives thereof where the terminal hydroxyl groups have been modified by esterification, etherification, etc., constitute another class of known synthetic lubricating oils. These are exemplified by polyoxyalkylene polymers prepared by polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, the alkyl and aryl ethers of these polyoxyalkylene polymers (e.g., methyl-poly isopropylene glycol ether having an average molecular weight of 1000, diphenyl ether of poly-ethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 500-1000, diethyl ether of polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1000-1500) ; and mono- and polycarboxylic esters thereof, for example, the acetic acid esters, mixed C₃ -C₈ fatty acid esters and C₁₃ Oxo acid diester of tetraethylene glycol.

Another suitable class of synthetic lubricating oils comprises the esters of dicarboxylic acids (e.g., phthalic acid, succinic acid, alkyl succinic acids and alkenyl succinic acids, maleic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid, sebasic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, linoleic acid dimer, malonic acid, alkylmalonic acids, alkenyl malonic acids) with a variety of alcohols (e.g., butyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoether, propylene glycol). Specific examples of these esters include dibutyl adipate, di(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate, di-n-hexyl fumarate, dioctyl sebacate, diisooctyl azelate, diisodecyl azelate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, dieicosyl sebacate, the 2-ethylhexyl diester of linoleic acid dimer, and the complex ester formed by reacting one mole of sebacic acid with two moles of tetraethylene glycol and two moles of 2-ethylhexanoic acid.

Esters useful as synthetic oils also include those made from C₅ to C₁₂ monocarboxylic acids and polyols and polyol ethers such as neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and tripentaerythritol.

Silicon-based oils such as the polyalkyl-, polyaryl-, polyalkoxy-, or polyaryloxysiloxane oils and silicate oils comprise another useful class of synthetic lubricants; they include tetraethyl silicate, tetraisopropyl silicate, tetra-(2-ethylhexyl)silicate, tetra-(4-methyl-2-ethylhexyl)silicate, tetra-(p-tert-butylphenyl)silicate, hexa-(4-methyl-2-pentoxy)disiloxane, poly(methyl)siloxanes and poly(methylphenyl)siloxanes. Other synthetic lubricating oils include liquid esters of phosphorus-containing acids (e.g., tricresyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, diethyl ester of decylphosphonic acid) and polymeric tetrahydrofurans.

Unrefined, refined and rerefined oils can be used in the lubricants of the present invention. Unrefined oils are those obtained directly from a natural or synthetic source without further purification treatment. For example, a shale oil obtained directly from retorting operations, a petroleum oil obtained directly from distillation or ester oil obtained directly from an esterification process and used without further treatment would be an unrefined oil. Refined oils are similar to the unrefined oils except they have been further treated in one or more purification steps to improve one or more properties. Many such purification techniques, such as distillation, solvent extraction, acid or base extraction, filtration and percolation are known to those skilled in the art. Rerefined oils are obtained by processes similar to those used to obtain refined oils applied to refined oils which have been already used in service. Such rerefined oils are also known as reclaimed or reprocessed oils and often are additionally processed by techniques for removal of spent additives and oil breakdown products.

Metal containing rust inhibitors and/or detergents are frequently used with ashless dispersants. Such detergents and rust inhibitors include the metal salts of sulphonic acids, alkyl phenols, sulphurized alkyl phenols, alkyl salicylates, naphthenates, and other oil soluble mono- and di-carboxylic acids. Highly basic, that is overbased metal salts which are frequently used as detergents appear particularly prone to interaction with the ashless dispersant. Usually these metal containing rust inhibitors and detergents are used in lubricating oil in amounts of about 0.01 to 10, e.g. 0.1 to 5 wt. %, based on the weight of the total lubricating composition. Marine diesel lubricating oils typically employ such metal-containing rust inhibitors and detergents in amounts of up to about 20 wt. %.

Highly basic alkaline earth metal sulfonates are frequently used as detergents. They are usually produced by heating a mixture comprising an oil-soluble sulfonate or alkaryl sulfonic acid, with an excess of alkaline earth metal compound above that required for complete neutralization of any sulfonic acid present and thereafter forming a dispersed carbonate complex by reacting the excess metal with carbon dioxide to provide the desired overbasing. The sulfonic acids are typically obtained by the sulfonation of alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as those obtained from the fractionation of petroleum by distillation and/or extraction or by the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons as for example those obtained by alkylating benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, diphenyl and the halogen derivatives such as chlorobenzene, chlorotoluene and chloronaphthalene. The alkylation may be carried out in the presence of a catalyst with alkylating agents having from about 3 to more than 30 carbon atoms. For example haloparaffins, olefins obtained by dehydrogenation of paraffins, polyolefins produced from ethylene, propylene, etc. are all suitable. The alkaryl sulfonates usually contain from about 9 to about 70 or more carbon atoms, preferably from about 16 to about 50 carbon atoms per alkyl substituted aromatic moiety.

The alkaline earth metal compounds which may be used in neutralizing these alkaryl sulfonic acids to provide the sulfonates includes the oxides and hydroxides, alkoxides, carbonates, carboxylate, sulfide, hydrosulfide, nitrate, borates and ethers of magnesium, calcium, and barium. Examples are calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium acetate and magnesium borate. As noted, the alkaline earth metal compound is used in excess of that required to complete neutralization of the alkaryl sulfonic acids. Generally, the amount ranges from about 100 to 220%, although it is preferred to use at least 125%, of the stoichiometric amount of metal required for complete neutralization.

Various other preparations of basic alkaline earth metal alkaryl sulfonates are known, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,150,088 and 3,150,089 wherein overbasing is accomplished by hydrolysis of an alkoxide-carbonate complex with the alkaryl sulfonate in a hydrocarbon solvent-diluent oil.

A preferred alkaline earth sulfonate additive is magnesium alkyl aromatic sulfonate having a total base number ranging from about 300 to about 400 with the magnesium sulfonate content ranging from about 25 to about 32 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the additive system dispersed in mineral lubricating oil.

Neutral metal sulfonates are frequently used as rust inhibitors. Polyvalent metal alkyl salicylate and naphthenate materials are known additives for lubricating oil compositions to improve their high temperature performance and to counteract deposition of carbonaceous matter on pistons (U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,069). An increase in reserve basicity of the polyvalent metal alkyl salicylates and naphthenates can be realized by utilizing alkaline earth metal, e.g. calcium, salts of mixtures of C₈ -C₂₆ alkyl salicylates and phenates (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,069) or polyvalent metal salts of alkyl salicyclic acids, said acids obtained from the alkylation of phenols followed by phenation, carboxylation and hydrolysis (U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,315) which could then be converted into highly basic salts by techniques generally known and used for such conversion. The reserve basicity of these metal-containing rust inhibitors is usefully at TBN levels of between about 60 and 150. Included with the useful polyvalent metal salicylate and naphthenate materials are the methylene and sulfur bridged materials which are readily derived from alkyl substituted salicylic or naphthenic acids or mixtures of either or both with alkyl substituted phenols. Basic sulfurized salicylates and a method for their preparation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,791. Such materials include alkaline earth metal, particularly magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium salts of aromatic acids having the general Formula:

    HOOC--ArR.sub.1 --Xy(ArR.sub.1 OH).sub.n                   (XX)

where Ar is an aryl radical of 1 to 6 rings, R₁ is an alkyl group having from about 8 to 50 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 30 carbon atoms (optimally about 12), X is a sulfur (--S--) or methylene (--CH₂ --) bridge, y is a number from 0 to 4 and n is a number from 0 to 4.

Preparation of the overbased methylene bridged salicylate-phenate salt is readily carried out by conventional techniques such as by alkylation of a phenol followed by phenation, carboxylation, hydrolysis, methylene bridging a coupling agent such as an alkylene dihalide followed by salt formation concurrent with carbonation. An overbased calcium salt of a methylene bridged phenol-salicylic acid of the general Formula (XXI): ##STR28## with a TBN of 60 to 150 is highly useful in this invention.

The sulfurized metal phenates can be considered the "metal salt of a phenol sulfide" which thus refers to a metal salt whether neutral or basic, of a compound typified by the general Formula (XXII): ##STR29## where x=1 or 2, n=0, 1 or 2; or a polymeric form of such a compound, where R is an alkyl radical, n and x are each integers from 1 to 4, and the average number of carbon atoms in all of the R groups is at least about 9 in order to ensure adequate solubility in oil. The individual R groups may each contain from 5 to 40, preferably 8 to 20, carbon atoms. The metal salt is prepared by reacting an alkyl phenol sulfide with a sufficient quantity of metal containing material to impart the desired alkalinity to the sulfurized metal phenate.

Regardless of the manner in which they are prepared, the sulfurized alkyl phenols which are useful generally contain from about 2 to about 14% by weight, preferably about 4 to about 12 wt. % sulfur based on the weight of sulfurized alkyl phenol.

The sulfurized alkyl phenol may be converted by reaction with a metal containing material including oxides, hydroxides and complexes in an amount sufficient to neutralize said phenol and, if desired, to overbase the product to a desired alkalinity by procedures well known in the art. Preferred is a process of neutralization utilizing a solution of metal in a glycol ether.

The neutral or normal sulfurized metal phenates are those in which the ratio of metal to phenol nucleus is about 1:2. The "overbased" or "basic" sulfurized metal phenates are sulfurized metal phenates wherein the ratio of metal to phenol is greater than that of stoichiometric, e.g. basic sulfurized metal dodecyl phenate has a metal content up to and greater than 100% in excess of the metal present in the corresponding normal sulfurized metal phenates wherein the excess metal is produced in oil-soluble or dispersible form (as by reaction with CO₂).

Magnesium and calcium containing additives although beneficial in other respects can increase the tendency of the lubricating oil to oxidize. This is especially true of the highly basic sulphonates.

According to a preferred embodiment the invention therefore provides a crankcase lubricating composition also containing from 2 to 8000 parts per million of calcium or magnesium.

The magnesium and/or calcium is generally present as basic or neutral detergents such as the sulphonates and phenates, our preferred additives are the neutral or basic magnesium or calcium sulphonates. Preferably the oils contain from 500 to 5000 parts per million of calcium or magnesium. Basic magnesium and calcium sulphonates are preferred.

A particular advantage of the novel dispersants of the present invention is use with V.I improvers to form multi-grade automobile engine lubricating oils. Viscosity modifiers impart high and low temperature operability to the lubricating oil and permit it to remain relatively viscous at elevated temperatures and also exhibit acceptable viscosity or fluidity at low temperatures. Viscosity modifiers are generally high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymers including polyesters. The viscosity modifiers may also be derivatized to include other properties or functions, such as the addition of dispersancy properties. These oil soluble viscosity modifying polymers will generally have number average molecular weights of from 10³ to 10⁶, preferably 10⁴ to 10⁶, e.g., 20,000 to 250,000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography or osmometry.

Examples of suitable hydrocarbon polymers include homopolymers and copolymers of two or more monomers of C₂ to C₃₀, e.g. C₂ to C₈ olefins, including both alpha olefins and internal olefins, which may be straight or branched, aliphatic, aromatic, alkyl-aromatic, cycloaliphatic, etc. Frequently they will be of ethylene with C₃ to C₃₀ olefins, particularly preferred being the copolymers of ethylene and propylene. Other polymers can be used such as polyisobutylenes, homopolymers and copolymers of C₆ and higher alpha olefins, atactic polypropylene, hydrogenated polymers and copolymers and terpolymers of styrene, e.g. with isoprene and/or butadiene and hydrogenated derivatives thereof. The polymer may be degraded in molecular weight, for example by mastication, extrusion, oxidation or thermal degradation, and it may be oxidized and contain oxygen. Also included are derivatized polymers such as post-grafted interpolymers of ethylene-propylene with an active monomer such as maleic anhydride which may be further reacted with an alcohol, or amine, e.g. an alkylene polyamine or hydroxy amine, e.g. see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,089,794; 4,160,739; 4,137,185; or copolymers of ethylene and propylene reacted or grafted with nitrogen compounds such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,068,056; 4,068,058; 4,146,489 and 4,149,984.

The preferred hydrocarbon polymers are ethylene copolymers containing from 15 to 90 wt. % ethylene, preferably 30 to 80 wt. % of ethylene and 10 to 85 wt. %, preferably 20 to 70 wt. % of one or more C₃ to C₂₈, preferably C₃ to C₁₈, more preferably C₃ to C₈, alpha-olefins. While not essential, such copolymers preferably have a degree of crystallinity of less than 25 wt. %, as determined by X-ray and differential scanning calorimetry. Copolymers of ethylene and propylene are most preferred. Other alpha-olefins suitable in place of propylene to form the copolymer, or to be used in combination with ethylene and propylene, to form a terpolymer, tetrapolymer, etc., include 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, etc.; also branched chain alpha-olefins, such as 4-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 5-methylpentene-1, 4,4-dimethyl-1-pentene, and 6-methylheptene-1, etc., and mixtures thereof.

Terpolymers, tetrapolymers, etc., of ethylene, said C₃₋₂₈ alpha-olefin, and a non-conjugated diolefin or mixtures of such diolefins may also be used. The amount of the non-conjugated diolefin generally ranges from about 0.5 to 20 mole percent, preferably from about 1 to about 7 mole percent, based on the total amount of ethylene and alpha-olefin present.

The polyester V.I. improvers are generally polymers of esters of ethylenically unsaturated C₃ to C₈ mono- and dicarboxylic acids such as methacrylic and acrylic acids, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, etc.

Examples of unsaturated esters that may be used include those of aliphatic saturated mono alcohols of at least 1 carbon atom and preferably of from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, such as decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, eicosanyl acrylate, docosanyl acrylate, decyl methacrylate, diamyl fumarate, lauryl methacrylate, cetyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, and the like and mixtures thereof.

Other esters include the vinyl alcohol esters of C₂ to C₂₂ fatty or mono carboxylic acids, preferably saturated such as vinyl acetate, vinyl laurate, vinyl palmitate, vinyl stearate, vinyl oleate, and the like and mixtures thereof. Copolymers of vinyl alcohol esters with unsaturated acid esters such as the copolymer of vinyl acetate with dialkyl fumarates, can also be used.

The esters may be copolymerized with still other unsaturated monomers such as olefins, e.g. 0.2 to 5 moles of C₂ -C₂₀ aliphatic or aromatic olefin per mole of unsaturated ester, or per mole of unsaturated acid or anhydride followed by esterification. For example, copolymers of styrene with maleic anhydride esterified with alcohols and amines are known, e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,300.

Such ester polymers may be grafted with, or the ester copolymerized with, polymerizable unsaturated nitrogen-containing monomers to impart dispersancy to the V.I. improvers. Examples of suitable unsaturated nitrogen-containing monomers include those containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms such as amino substituted olefins as p-(beta-diethylaminoethyl)styrene; basic nitrogen-containing heterocycles carrying a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated substituent, e.g. the vinyl pyridines and the vinyl alkyl pyridines such as 2-vinyl-5-ethyl pyridine, 2-methyl-5-vinyl pyridine, 2-vinyl-pyridine, 4-vinyl-pyridine, 3-vinyl-pyridine, 3-methyl-5-vinyl-pyridine, 4-methyl-2-vinyl-pyridine, 4-ethyl-2-vinyl-pyridine and 2-butyl-1-5-vinyl-pyridine and the like.

N-vinyl lactams are also suitable, e.g. N-vinyl pyrrolidones or N-vinyl piperidones.

The vinyl pyrrolidones are preferred and are exemplified by N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-(1-methylvinyl) pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-5-methyl pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-3, 3-dimethylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-5-ethyl pyrrolidone, etc.

Dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate metal salts are frequently used as anti-wear agents and also provide antioxidant activity. The zinc salts are most commonly used in lubricating oil in amounts of 0.1 to 10, preferably 0.2 to 2 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the lubricating oil composition. They may be prepared in accordance with known techniques by first forming a dithiophosphoric acid, usually by reaction of an alcohol or a phenol with P₂ S₅ and then neutralizing the dithiophosphoric acid with a suitable zinc compound.

Mixtures of alcohols may be used including mixtures of primary and secondary alcohols, secondary generally for imparting improved anti-wear properties, with primary giving improved thermal stability properties. Mixtures of the two are particularly useful. In general, any basic or neutral zinc compound could be used but the oxides, hydroxides and carbonates are most generally employed. Commercial additives frequently contain an excess of zinc due to use of an excess of the basic zinc compound in the neutralization reaction.

The zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphates useful in the present invention are oil soluble salts of dihydrocarbyl esters of dithiophosphoric acids and may be represented by the following Formula: ##STR30## wherein R and R' may be the same or different hydrocarbyl radicals containing from 1 to 18, preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms and including radicals such as alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl and cycloaliphatic radicals. Particularly preferred as R and R' groups are alkyl groups of 2 to 8 carbon atoms. Thus, the radicals may, for example, be ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl, amyl, n-hexyl, i-hexyl, n-octyl, decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, phenyl, butylphenyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclopentyl, propenyl, butenyl etc. In order to obtain oil solubility, the total number of carbon atoms (i.e., R and R' in Formula XXIII) in the dithiophosphoric acid will generally be about 5 or greater.

The antioxidants useful in this invention include oil soluble copper compounds. The copper may be blended into the oil as any suitable oil soluble copper compound. By oil soluble we mean the compound is oil soluble under normal blending conditions in the oil or additive package. The copper compound may be in the cuprous or cupric form. The copper may be in the form of the copper dihydrocarbyl thio- or dithio-phosphates wherein copper may be substituted for zinc in the compounds and reactions described above although one mole of cuprous or cupric oxide may be reacted with one or two moles of the dithiophosphoric acid, respectively. Alternatively the copper may be added as the copper salt of a synthetic or natural carboxylic acid. Examples include C₁₀ to C₁₈ fatty acids such as stearic or palmitic, but unsaturated acids such as oleic or branched carboxylic acids such as napthenic acids of molecular weight from 200 to 500 or synthetic carboxylic acids are preferred because of the improved handling and solubility properties of the resulting copper carboxylates. Also useful are oil soluble copper dithiocarbamates of the general Formula (RR'NCSS)_(n) Cu, where n is 1 or 2 and R and R' are the same or different hydrocarbyl radicals containing from 1 to 18 and preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms and including radicals such as alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl and cycloaliphatic radicals. Particularly preferred as R and R' groups are alkyl groups of 2 to 8 carbon atoms. Thus, the radicals may, for example, be ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl, amyl, n-hexyl, i-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, phenyl, butylphenyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclopentyl, propenyl, butenyl, etc. In order to obtain oil solubility, the total number of carbon atoms (i.e., R and R') will generally be about 5 or greater. Copper sulphonates, phenates, and acetylacetonates may also be used.

Exemplary of useful copper compounds are copper (Cu^(I) and/or Cu^(II)) salts of alkenyl succinic acids or anhydrides. The salts themselves may be basic, neutral or acidic. They may be formed by reacting (a) any of the materials discussed above in the Ashless Dispersant section, which have at least one free carboxylic acid (or anhydride) group with (b) a reactive metal compound. Suitable acid (or anhydride) reactive metal compounds include those such as cupric or cuprous hydroxides, oxides, acetates, borates, and carbonates or basic copper carbonate.

Examples of the metal salts of this invention are Cu salts of polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride (hereinafter referred to as Cu-PIBSA), and Cu salts of polyisobutenyl succinic acid. Preferably, the selected metal employed is its divalent form, e.g., Cu⁺². The preferred substrates are polyalkenyl succinic acids in which the alkenyl group has a molecular weight greater than about 700. The alkenyl group desirably has a M_(n) from about 900 to 1400, and up to 2500, with a M_(n) of about 950 being most preferred. Especially preferred, of those listed above in the section on Dispersants, is polyisobutylene succinic acid (PIBSA). These materials may desirably be dissolved in a solvent, such as a mineral oil, and heated in the presence of a water solution (or slurry) of the metal bearing material. Heating may take place between 70° and about 200° C. Temperatures of 110° to 140° C. are entirely adequate. It may be necessary, depending upon the salt produced, not to allow the reaction to remain at a temperature above about 140° C. for an extended period of time, e.g., longer than 5 hours, or decomposition of the salt may occur.

The copper antioxidants (e.g., Cu-PIBSA, Cu-oleate, or mixtures thereof) will be generally employed in an amount of from about 50-500 ppm by weight of the metal, in the final lubricating or fuel composition.

The copper antioxidants used in this invention are inexpensive and are effective at low concentrations and therefore do not add substantially to the cost of the product. The results obtained are frequently better than those obtained with previously used antioxidants, which are expensive and used in higher concentrations. In the amounts employed, the copper compounds do not interfere with the performance of other components of the lubricating composition, in many instances, completely satisfactory results are obtained when the copper compound is the sole antioxidant in addition to the ZDDP. The copper compounds can be utilized to replace part or all of the need for supplementary antioxidants. Thus, for particularly severe conditions it may be desirable to include a supplementary, conventional antioxidant. However, the amounts of supplementary antioxidant required are small, far less than the amount required in the absence of the copper compound.

While any effective amount of the copper antioxidant can be incorporated into the lubricating oil composition, it is contemplated that such effective amounts be sufficient to provide said lube oil composition with an amount of the copper antioxidant of from about 5 to 500 (more preferably 10 to 200, still more preferably 10 to 180, and most preferably 20 to 130 (e.g., 90 to 120)) part per million of added copper based on the weight of the lubricating oil composition. Of course, the preferred amount may depend amongst other factors on the quality of the basestock lubricating oil.

Corrosion inhibitors, also known as anti-corrosive agents, reduce the degradation of the metallic parts contacted by the lubricating oil composition. Illustrative of corrosion inhibitors are phosphosulfurized hydrocarbons and the products obtained by reaction of a phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon with an alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide, preferably in the presence of an alkylated phenol or of an alkylphenol thioester, and also preferably in the presence of carbon dioxide. Phosphosulfurized hydrocarbons are prepared by reacting a suitable hydrocarbon such as a terpene, a heavy petroleum fraction of a C₂ to C₆ olefin polymer such as polyisobutylene, with from 5 to 30 weight percent of a sulfide of phosphorus for 1/2 to 15 hours, at a temperature in the range of 65° to 315° C. Neutralization of the phosphosulfurized hydrocarbon may be effected in the manner taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,969,324.

Oxidation inhibitors reduce the tendency of mineral oils to deteriorate in service which deterioration can be evidenced by the products of oxidation such as sludge and varnish-like deposits on the metal surfaces and by viscosity growth. Such oxidation inhibitors include alkaline earth metal salts of alkylphenolthioesters having preferably C₅ to C₁₂ alkyl side chains, calcium nonylphenol sulfide, barium t-octylphenyl sulfide, dioctylphenylamine, phenylalphanaphthylamine, phosphosulfurized or sulfurized hydrocarbons, etc.

Friction modifiers serve to impart the proper friction characteristics to lubricating oil compositions such as automatic transmission fluids.

Representative examples of suitable friction modifiers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,659 which discloses fatty acid esters and amides; U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,074 which describes molybdenum complexes of polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride-amino alkanols; U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,571 which discloses glycerol esters of dimerized fatty acids; U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,928 which discloses alkane phosphonic acid salts; U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,375 which discloses reaction products of a phosphonate with an oleamide; U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,205 which discloses S-carboxy-alkylene hydrocarbyl succinimide, S-carboxyalkylene hydrocarbyl succinamic acid and mixtures thereof; U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,306 which discloses N-(hydroxyalkyl) alkenyl-succinamic acids or succinimides; U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,290 which discloses reaction products of di-(lower alkyl) phosphites and epoxides; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,258 which discloses the alkylene oxide adduct of phosphosulfurized N-(hydroxyalkyl) alkenyl succinimides. The disclosures of the above references are herein incorporated by reference. The most preferred friction modifiers are glycerol mono and dioleates, and succinate esters, or metal salts thereof, of hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acids or anhydrides and thiobis alkanols such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,853.

Pour point depressants lower the temperature at which the fluid will flow or can be poured. Such depressants are well known. Typical of those additives which usefully optimize the low temperature fluidity of the fluid are C₈ -C₁₈ dialkylfumarate vinyl acetate copolymers, polymethacrylates, and wax naphthalene.

Foam control can be provided by an antifoamant of the polysiloxane type, e.g. silicone oil and polydimethyl siloxane.

Organic, oil-soluble compounds useful as rust inhibitors in this invention comprise nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyalkylene polyols and esters thereof, and anionic surfactants such as salts of alkyl sulfonic acids. Such anti-rust compounds are known and can be made by conventional means. Nonionic surfactants, useful as anti-rust additives in the oleaginous compositions of this invention, usually owe their surfactant properties to a number of weak stabilizing groups such as ether linkages. Nonionic anti-rust agents containing ether linkages can be made by alkoxylating organic substrates containing active hydrogens with an excess of the lower alkylene oxides (such as ethylene and propylene oxides) until the desired number of alkoxy groups have been placed in the molecule.

The preferred rust inhibitors are polyoxyalkylene polyols and derivatives thereof. This class of materials are commercially available from various sources: Pluronic Polyols from Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation; Polyglycol 112-2, a liquid triol derived from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide available from Dow Chemical Co.; and Tergitol, dodecylphenyl or monophenyl polyethylene glycol ethers, and Ucon, polyalkylene glycols and derivatives, both available from Union Carbide Corp. These are but a few of the commercial products suitable as rust inhibitors in the improved composition of the present invention.

In addition to the polyols per se, the esters thereof obtained by reacting the polyols with various carboxylic acids are also suitable. Acids useful in preparing these esters are lauric acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, and alkyl- or alkenyl-substituted succinic acids wherein the alkyl-or alkenyl group contains up to about twenty carbon atoms.

The preferred polyols are prepared as block polymers. Thus, a hydroxy-substituted compound, R--(OH)n (wherein n is 1 to 6, and R is the residue of a mono- or polyhydric alcohol, phenol, naphthol, etc.) is reacted with propylene oxide to form a hydrophobic base. This base is then reacted with ethylene oxide to provide a hydrophylic portion resulting in a molecule having both hydrophobic and hydrophylic portions. The relative sizes of these portions can be adjusted by regulating the ratio of reactants, time of reaction, etc., as is obvious to those skilled in the art. Thus it is within the skill of the art to prepare polyols whose molecules are characterized by hydrophobic and hydrophylic moieties which are present in a ratio rendering rust inhibitors suitable for use in any lubricant composition regardless of differences in the base oils and the presence of other additives.

If more oil-solubility is needed in a given lubricating composition, the hydrophobic portion can be increased and/or the hydrophylic portion decreased. If greater oil-in-water emulsion breaking ability is required, the hydrophylic and/or hydrophobic portions can be adjusted to accomplish this.

Compounds illustrative of R--(OH)n include alkylene polyols such as the alkylene glycols, alkylene triols, alkylene tetrols, etc., such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, and the like. Aromatic hydroxy compounds such as alkylated mono- and polyhydric phenols and naphthols can also be used, e.g., heptylphenol, dodecylphenol, etc.

Other suitable demulsifiers include the esters disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,098,827 and 2,674,619.

The liquid polyols available from Wyandotte Chemical Co. under the name Pluronic Polyols and other similar polyols are particularly well suited as rust inhibitors. These Pluronic Polyols correspond to the Formula: ##STR31## wherein x,y, and z are integers greater than 1 such that the --CH₂ CH₂ O-- groups comprise from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the total molecular weight of the glycol, the average molecule weight of said glycol being from about 1000 to about 5000. These products are prepared by first condensing propylene oxide with propylene glycol to produce the hydrophobic base ##STR32## This condensation product is then treated with ethylene oxide to add hydrophylic portions to both ends of the molecule. For best results, the ethylene oxide units should comprise from about 10 to about 40% by weight of the molecule. Those products wherein the molecular weight of the polyol is from about 2500 to 4500 and the ethylene oxide units comprise from about 10% to about 15% by weight of the molecule are particularly suitable. The polyols having a molecular weight of about 4000 with about 10% attributable to (CH₂ CH₂ O) units are particularly good. Also useful are alkoxylated fatty amines, amides, alcohols and the like, including such alkoxylated fatty acid derivatives treated with C₉ to C₁₆ alkyl-substituted phenols (such as the mono- and di-heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl and tridecyl phenols), as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,501, which is also hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

These compositions of our invention may also contain other additives such as those previously described, and other metal containing additives, for example, those containing barium and sodium.

The lubricating composition of the present invention may also include copper lead bearing corrosion inhibitors. Typically such compounds are the thiadiazole polysulphides containing from 5 to 50 carbon atoms, their derivatives and polymers thereof. Preferred materials are the derivatives of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,719,125; 2,719,126; and 3,087,932; especially preferred is the compound 2,5 bis (t-octadithio)-1,3,4-thiadiazole commercially available as Amoco 150. Other similar materials also suitable are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,821,236; 3,904,537; 4,097,387; 4,107,059; 4,136,043; 4,188,299; and 4,193,882.

Other suitable additives are the thio and polythio sulphenamides of thiadiazoles such as those described in U.K. Patent Specification 1,560,830. When these compounds are included in the lubricating composition, we prefer that they be present in an amount from 0.01 to 10, preferably 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent based on the weight of the composition.

Some of these numerous additives can provide a multiplicity of effects, e.g. a dispersant-oxidation inhibitor. This approach is well known and need not be further elaborated herein.

Compositions when containing these conventional additives are typically blended into the base oil in amounts effective to provide their normal attendant function. Representative effective amounts of such additives (as the respective active ingredients) in the fully formulated oil are illustrated as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                          Wt. % A.I.                                                                               Wt. % A.I.                                          Compositions     (Preferred)                                                                              (Broad)                                             ______________________________________                                         Viscosity Modifier                                                                              .01-4     0.01-12                                             Detergents       0.01-3    0.01-20                                             Corrosion Inhibitor                                                                             0.01-1.5  .01-5                                               Oxidation Inhibitor                                                                             0.01-1.5  .01-5                                               Dispersant       0.1-8      .1-20                                              Pour Point Depressant                                                                           0.01-1.5  .01-5                                               Anti-Foaming Agents                                                                             0.001-0.15                                                                               .001-3                                              Anti-Wear Agents 0.001-1.5 .001-5                                              Friction Modifiers                                                                              0.01-1.5  .01-5                                               Mineral Oil Base Balance   Balance                                             ______________________________________                                    

When other additives are employed, it may be desirable, although not necessary, to prepare additive concentrates comprising concentrated solutions or dispersions of the novel dispersants of this invention (in concentrate amounts hereinabove described), together with one or more of said other additives (said concentrate when constituting an additive mixture being referred to herein as an additive-package) whereby several additives can be added simultaneously to the base oil to form the lubricating oil composition. Dissolution of the additive concentrate into the lubricating oil may be facilitated by solvents and by mixing accompanied with mild heating, but this is not essential. The concentrate or additive-package will typically be formulated to contain the additives in proper amounts to provide the desired concentration in the final formulation when the additive-package is combined with a predetermined amount of base lubricant. Thus, the dispersants of the present invention can be added to small amounts of base oil or other compatible solvents along with other desirable additives to form additive-packages containing active ingredients in collective amounts of typically from about 2.5 to about 90%, and preferably from about 15 to about 75%, and most preferably from about 25 to about 60% by weight additives in the appropriate proportions with the remainder being base oil.

The final formulations may employ typically about 10 wt. % of the additive-package with the remainder being base oil.

All of said weight percents expressed herein (unless otherwise indicated) are based on active ingredient (A.I.) content of the additive, and/or upon the total weight of any additive-package, or formulation which will be the sum of the A.I. weight of each additive plus the weight of total oil or diluent.

This invention will be further understood by reference to the following examples, wherein all parts are parts by weight, unless otherwise noted and which include preferred embodiments of the invention. In the Examples, SA:PIB and SA:EP-polymer ratios are based upon the total PIB and EP-polymer, respectively, charged to the reactor as starting material, i.e., both the PIB and EP-polymer which reacts and the PIB and EP-polymer which remains unreacted. In the Examples, wt.% ethylene in the polymers was determined by FTIR (ASTM Method D3900). In the Examples, the "reference oil" was as defined above for Formula IIIa.

EXAMPLE 1--Preparation of Ethylene-Propylene Copolymer

A 1 liter Zipperclave reactor (Autoclave Engineers) equipped with a water jacket for temperature control, with a septum inlet for syringe injection of catalyst, and with a supply of purified nitrogen, liquid propylene, and ethylene was used used in these polymerizations. The reactor was cleaned with hot toluene and then was purged well with dry nitrogen at 100° C. The reactor was cooled to 25° C. and 10.0 cc of a 4.0 wt % toluene solution of methylalumoxane was injected along with 100 cc of distilled toluene at 0 psig under nitrogen. Liquid propylene monomer (200 cc) was added from a calibrated burette at 25° C. The reactor contents were stirred and heated to 115° C. at which point the reactor pressure was 375 psig. 1.00 cc of a toluene solution of bis(n-butylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride (1.00 mg) was injected and ethylene at a pressure of 405 psig was immediately supplied. Ethylene was fed on pressure demand in order to keep the system pressure at 405 psig. The rate of ethylene flow was recorded continuously during the course of the polymerization. The reaction was continued for 15 minutes after which the reaction was stopped by rapidly depressuring and cooling the reactor to 25° C. The polymer product was collected and the toluene solvent was evaporated in an air stream. The polymer weight was determined to be 103.1 gms, and the polymer was analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography and found to contain 68 wt % ethylene and to have a number average molecular weight of 1100, a weight average molecular weight of 5400 and a polydispersity of 4.9. The polymer product was found to contain 2.5 wppm Zr and 1.75 wppm Cl.

EXAMPLE 2--Preparation of Ethylene-Propylene Copolymer Substituted Thioacetic Acid

One part of the EP polymer prepared as in Example 1 and 1.0 part of thioacetic acid are charged under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure to a 100 ml. pressure reactor equipped with a stirrer and a thermocouple and heated by means of an electric heating mantle. About one part of heptane was added to help mixing. Then, 0.02 part of t-butylperbenzoate was added and the temperature was raised to 90° C. An additional 0.2 part of thioacetic acid and 0.01 part of t-butylperbenzoate was added, and the reaction mixture was kept at 90° C. for one hour. The product was stirred at room temperature overnight and filtered. No observable sediment was collected on the filter paper. The heptane solvent was removed by stripping the filtrate with gaseous nitrogen at 100° C. for one hour, and the product was analyzed. The analysis showed 79.4% conversion of the polymer to the desired ethylene-propylene copolymer-thioacetic acid adduct (hereinafter termed "EPTAc").

EXAMPLE 3--Preparation of Polyamine Dispersant

A dispersant material is prepared employing the EPTAc product prepared as in Example 2. The EPTAc product is dissolved in an equal amount by weight of a mineral oil, S150N. To 20 g. of the EPTAc product is added 1.2 g. of a polyamine (tetraethylenepentamine; 32.6 wt % N) and the mixture is heated to 140° C. under nitrogen while stirring for about 2 hours, followed by one hour of N₂ stripping with dry nitrogen gas. The molar ratio of total EPTAc product charged (in terms of thioacetic acid equivalents) to polyamine charged is 2 to 1.

The viscosity of the resulting dispersant solution is determined to be 6.53 cSt at 100° C. using a Ubelohde viscometer KV (100° C., cSt; ASTM Method D445) and 23.13 poise at -20° C. with a Cold Cranking Simulator (CCS; ASTM Method D2602), wherein the measurements are made upon a 2 wt % solution of the EPTAc product prepared as in Example 2 in a S150N (solvent 150 neutral) mineral lubricating oil wherein the such S150N oil is characterized by an ASTM D445 kinematic viscosity of 5.2 cSt (100° C.) and an ASTM D2602 CCS of 19.2 poise (±0.4 poise) (at -20° C.), that is possesses a VR_(o) =3.7. The dispersant of Example 3, therefore, possessed a VR' value of about 3.5, indicating improved viscosity characteristics as compared to the S150N oil itself.

The resulting dispersant material product mixture is then tested for sludge inhibition (via the SIB test) and varnish inhibition (via the VIB test), as described below.

The SIB test has been found, after a large number of evaluations, to be an excellent test for assessing the dispersing power of lubricating oil dispersant additives.

The medium chosen for the SIB test is a used crankcase mineral lubricating oil composition having an original viscosity of about 325 SUS at 38° C. that had been used in a taxicab that is driven generally for short trips only, thereby causing a buildup of a high concentration of sludge precursors. The oil that is used contains only a refined base mineral lubricating oil, a viscosity index improver, a pour point depressant and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate anti-wear additive. The oil contains no sludge dispersant. A quantity of such used oil is acquired by draining and refilling the taxicab crankcase at 1000-2000 mile intervals.

The SIB test is conducted in the following manner: the aforesaid used crankcase oil, which is milky brown in color, is freed of sludge by centrifuging for one hour at about 39,000 gravities (gs.). The resulting clear bright red supernatant oil is then decanted from the insoluble sludge particles thereby separated out. However, the supernatant oil still contains oil-soluble sludge precursors which on heating under the conditions employed by this test will tend to form additional oil-insoluble deposits of sludge. The sludge inhibiting properties of the additives being tested are determined by adding to portions of the supernatant used oil, a small amount, such as 0.5, 1 or 2 weight percent, of the particular additive being tested. Ten grams of each blend being tested are placed in a stainless steel centrifuge tube and are heated at 135° C. for 16 hours in the presence of air. Following the heating, the tube containing the oil being tested is cooled and then centrifuged for about 30 minutes at room temperature at about 39,000 gs. Any deposits of new sludge that form in this step are separated from the oil by decanting the supernatant oil and then carefully washing the sludge deposits with 25 ml of heptane to remove all remaining oil from the sludge and further centrifuging. The weight of the new solid sludge that has been formed in the test, in milligrams, is determined by drying the residue and weighing it. The results are reported as amount of precipitated sludge in comparison with the precipitated sludge of a blank not containing any additional additive, which blank is normalized to a rating of 10. The less new sludge precipitated in the presence of the additive, the lower the SIB value and the more effective is the additive as a sludge dispersant. In other words, if the additive gives half as much precipitated sludge as the blank, then it would be rated 5.0 since the blank will be normalized to 10.

The VIB test is used to determine varnish inhibition. Here, the test sample consists of 10 grams of lubricating oil containing a small amount of the additive being tested. The test oil to which the additive is admixed is of the same type as used in the above-described SIB test. The ten gram sample is heat soaked overnight at about 140° C. and thereafter centrifuged to remove the sludge. The supernatant fluid of the sample is subjected to heat cycling from about 150° C. to room temperature over a period of 3.5 hours at a frequency of about 2 cycles per minute. During the heating phase, gas which was a mixture of about 0.7 volume percent SO₂, 1.4 volume percent NO and balance air is bubbled through the test sample. During the cooling phase, water vapor is bubbled through the test sample. At the end of the test period, which testing cycle can be repeated as necessary to determine the inhibiting effect of any additive, the wall surfaces of the test flask in which the sample is contained are visually evaluated as to the varnish inhibition. The amount of varnish imposed on the walls is rated to values of from 1 to 11 with the higher number being the greater amount of varnish, in comparison with a blank with no additive that was rated 11.

10.00 grams of SIB test oil are mixed with 0.05 grams of the products of the Example 3 and tested in the aforedescribed SIB and VIB tests.

The results of the SIB/VIB tests indicated a SIB rating of 7.7 and a VIB rating of 3.3, indicating the desirable dispersant properties possessed by the dispersant materials of this invention.

The principles, preferred embodiments, and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein, however, is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. An oil-soluble sulfur-containing additive useful in oleaginous compositions which comprises an ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted with thiocarboxylic acid producing moieties, wherein the substituted polymer is derived from an unsubstituted polymer comprising monomer units derived from ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin of the formula H₂ C═CHR¹ wherein R¹ is an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a number average molecular weight of from about 300 to 10,000 and an average of at least about 30% of said unsubstituted polymer chains contain terminal ethylidene unsaturation, said additive having a VR value of less than 4.1.
 2. The additive of claim 1 wherein said substituted polymer is substantially chlorine free.
 3. The additive of claim 1 wherein said substituted polymer contains less than about 10 ppm by weight of chlorine.
 4. The additive of claim 3 wherein said VR value is from about 2.5 to 4.0.
 5. The additive of claim 1 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a number average molecular weight of between about 700 and about 5,000.
 6. The additive of claim 2 wherein said number average molecular weight is between about 1500 and
 3000. 7. The additive of claim 1 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a molar ethylene content of between about 20 and about 80 percent.
 8. The additive of claim 1 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a molar ethylene content of between about 45 and about 65 percent.
 9. The additive of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said alpha-olefin is propylene.
 10. The additive of claim 8 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a number average molecular weight of from about 1500 to
 3000. 11. The additive of claim 2 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a molar ethylene content of between about 20 and about 80 percent.
 12. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid or acid ester of the formula: ##STR33## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, and D¹ and D² are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl.
 13. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid or acid ester of the formula: ##STR34## wherein L is trivalent hydrocarbyl, and D³ and D⁴ are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl.
 14. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid anhydride of the formula: ##STR35## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, and D³ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 15. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid of the formula:

    HS--CH(D')--C.sub.d H.sub.2d --C(O)--OH

wherein D' is H or alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and d is an integer of from 0 to
 5. 16. The additive of claim 8 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid of the formula: ##STR36## wherein e and f are the same or different and are each integers of from 0 to 10, with the proviso that the sum of e and f is from 2 to
 10. 17. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety is selected from thio-substituted polycarboxylic acid and acid esters of the formula:

    HS--L'--[C(O)OD.sup.4 ]p'

wherein L' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, p' is an integer of from 3 to 4 and D⁴ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 18. The additive of claim 17 wherein L' is derived from a phenyl or mono- or di-alkyl substituted phenyl group and wherein p' is 3 or
 4. 19. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted polycarboxylic acid anhydride of the formula: ##STR37## wherein J' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, p" is a number of from 2 to 3 and D³ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 20. The additive of any one of claims 13 to 19 wherein J, J', L and L' groups when present are derived from hydrocarbons containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.
 21. The additive of any one of claims 13 to 19 wherein the D¹ -D⁴ groups when present comprise members selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, alkyl-substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent and from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl moiety, aryl-substituted alkyl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms in the cycloalkyl group and from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent group.
 22. The additive of claim 19 wherein said J' group comprises a member selected from the group consisting of alkylidine having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
 23. The additive of claim 1 wherein said VR value is less than 4.0.
 24. A lubricating oil concentrate containing from about 1 to 80 wt. % of the substituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer of claim
 1. 25. A lubricating oil composition containing from about 5 to 70 wt. % of the substituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer of claim
 1. 26. The additive of claim 1 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety are derived from at least one member selected from the group consisting of thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid and acid esters, thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid and acid esters, thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid anhydrides and mixtures thereof.
 27. A low sediment process for producing a lubricating oil additive which comprises contacting (a) an unsubstituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer comprising monomer units derived from ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin of the formula H₂ C═CHR¹ wherein R¹ is an alkyl group of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and wherein said polymer has a number average molecular weight of from about 700 to 10,000 and an average of at least about 30% of said polymer chains contain terminal ethenylidene unsaturation with (b) at least one thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety, in an unsubstituted polymer to thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety mole ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:10, under conditions and for a time sufficient to form a low sediment product mixture containing an ethylene alpha-olefin polymer substituted with thiocarboxylic acid producing moieties and having a functionality of at least about 0.7, wherein said product mixture is characterized by a VR value of not greater than about 4.1, and said product mixture being substantially free of halogen.
 28. The process according to claim 25 wherein the resulting product mixture is substantially chlorine free.
 29. The process according to claim 26 wherein said product mixture contains less than about 10 ppm by weight of chlorine.
 30. The process of claim 25 wherein said unsubstituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer and said at least one thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid material are contacted in the presence of a lubricating oil solvent or diluent.
 31. The process of claim 25 wherein said unsubstituted polymer has a number average molecular weight of between about 700 and about 5,000.
 32. The process of claim 29 wherein said number average molecular weight is between about 1500 and
 3000. 33. The process of claim 26 wherein said alpha-olefin is propylene.
 34. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety is derived from at least one member selected from the group consisting of thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid and acid esters, thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid and acid esters, thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid anhydrides and mixtures thereof.
 35. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid or acid ester of the formula: ##STR38## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, and D¹ and D² are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl.
 36. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid or acid ester of the formula: ##STR39## wherein L is trivalent hydrocarbyl, and D³ and D⁴ are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl.
 37. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid anhydrides of the formula: ##STR40## wherein J is divalent hydrocarbyl, and D³ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 38. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted monocarboxylic acid of the formula:

    HS--CH(D')--C.sub.d H.sub.2d --C(O)--OH

wherein D' is H or alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and d is an integer of from 0 to
 5. 39. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted dicarboxylic acid of the formula: ##STR41## wherein e and f are the same or different and are each integers of from 0 to 10, with the proviso that the sum of e and f is from 2 to
 10. 40. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety is selected from thio-substituted polycarboxylic acid and acid esters of the formula:

    HS--L'--[C(O)OD.sup.4 ]p'

wherein L' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, p' is an integer of from 3 to 4 and D⁴ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 41. The process of claim 38 wherein L' is derived from a phenyl or mono- or di-alkyl substituted phenyl group and wherein p' is 3 or
 4. 42. The process of claim 25 wherein said thiocarboxylic acid producing moiety comprises a thio-substituted polycarboxylic acid anhydride of the formula: ##STR42## wherein J' is polyvalent hydrocarbyl, p" is a number of from 2 to 3 and D³ is H or hydrocarbyl.
 43. The process of any one of claims 33 to 40 wherein J, J', L and L' groups when present are derived from hydrocarbons containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.
 44. The process of claim 41 wherein the D¹ -D⁴ groups when present comprise members selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, aryl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, alkyl-substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent and from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl moiety, aryl-substituted alkyl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aryl group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms in the cycloalkyl group and from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent group.
 45. The process of claim 42 wherein said J group comprises a member selected from the group consisting of alkylidine having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein said VR value is less than 4.0.
 46. The process of claim 25 wherein said alpha-olefin is propylene.
 47. The process of claim 44 wherein said product mixture comprises substituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer and less than about 40 wt % of ethyelene alpha-olefin polymer unsubstituted with said thiocarboxylic acid moieties.
 48. The process of claim 45 wherein said unsubstituted ethylene alpha-olefin polymer is present in said product mixture in a concentration of less than about 30 wt %. 